By Graham Wellstead.

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Understanding Badgers: Conservation Efforts and Controversies

Introduction:

In this blog post, FFON contributor Graham Wellstead shares his personal experiences and insights into the complex relationship between badgers, one of our native wildlife’s most iconic creatures, and human society. Drawing from years of observation and a deep-seated respect for nature, Graham discusses the challenges badgers face, from historical persecution to modern conservation efforts and the contentious badger culls in the UK. Through his narrative, we are invited to reflect on the impact of human actions on badgers and the broader ecosystem. The views presented are those of the author, grounded in a life closely entwined with the natural world. As we explore the plight of the badger and the efforts to protect it, Graham encourages a dialogue on finding a balance between agricultural needs and wildlife conservation.

It comes with a bit of a warning, because it’s in part quite graphic.

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The badger is a much-loved member of our native wildlife. Far from restricted to the UK, it is also very widespread in Europe, and here it is our largest predator.  It has been here longer than we have, yet has not always enjoyed our patronage. Until recently badger digging and its follow up, badger baiting was quite common. I knew some of the despicable low life involved. They either dug out a badger and let it run before big lurcher dogs (Greyhound/collie crosses) or put it in a purpose made tunnel where it could not turn round and set terriers on it. I found such actions beyond belief. The badger was not alone in its suffering as the dogs used also had serious wounds, such as the total loss of a lower jaw.  Badgers have an astonishing bite, and I have seen steel spades with bite marks. So it was with some celebration that I saw the Badger Protection Act made law in 1992; ten years after the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Since 2013 there has been a systematic culling of badgers on the understanding that badgers pass Tuberculosis to cows, who then are capable of passing the disease to humans (a zoonosis). Not only are many badgers killed but also many cattle which fail the TB test.

Over 120,000 badgers have been killed in an attempt to control the disease. One wonders at the veracity of that number, as it is much greater than the living population, which, if actually correct means an astonishing rate of replacement.  Although many farmers understandably support the cull, having lost herds of cattle which had been established often for many generations of their families, and therefore an irreplaceable asset. And, naturally there is the cost to the tax payer, not only the cattle, but of course, also the badgers – upwards of £100million.

This has been taking place for ten years with evidence of success disputed. There are now rising calls to suspend these actions, and find another way. I have talked to a number of dairy farmers, while asking permission to fly hawks on their land, especially where there is woodland, and – in the process – have found active badger setts, which prompted the question of TB transmission. Opinions were generally that the process was often two way and because the evidence so far was inconclusive. The problem not helped by the fact that the production of a vaccine is still not resolved. The production of a vaccine is carried out within a series of parameters which dictate set periods, of time. In other words, you cannot side step the process to speed things up.

Scientists estimate the transmission of the disease from badger to cow is just 5%, which makes the cow-to-cow transmission rather higher.  If this is the case it makes something of a nonsense to urge the continued killing an animal regarded highly by those interested in our wildlife. The badger is “King of the Woods” and has been so for millennia.  Badgers live underground, and mostly, but not always, only emerge at night. Most of us have never seen a live badger. Dead on the roadside more likely. It is estimated that 50,000 badgers are killed on the road every year. The Badger is considered to be an endangered species, estimates of its population being 485,000 and rising by some 80% since the 1980’s. This comes as a surprise when you learn that the ubiquitous fox has an estimated population of 357.000. If these figures are anywhere near correct then with 210,000 badgers culled over ten years suggests we have lost 42 percent of the total population. Although breeding has probably replaced most, plus the rise in numbers since the 80’s.  Foxes are seen far more frequently than badgers, with a large urban population, of which a greater proportion than the badger are killed by traffic. On a return journey along the M25, between junctions 10 and 3, I saw 22 dead foxes on the hard shoulder and may have missed some. The lifestyle is also different. Badgers live in family groups with up to 12 in the clan, while foxy is much more solitary.  Unlike the Red Fox, I have never heard of a confrontation a free-living badger and a human.  They do not interfere with farm stock, living, so to speak, off the land. Their homes – Setts – have often been in use for centuries, and they often have a number of setts to chose from on their territory.

On the Estate where I worked as a lecturer at what was the country agricultural college, I spent many hours watching one of two known setts. One active, the other seemingly only used if the occupants were too far from home at sun up.  The sett had been established for many years, possibly before the estate was included in the Doomsday Book, (1085). There were over a dozen entrances, and the amount of soil dug out made for a substantial mound, like a small hill. One could only guess how many tunnels there were, and the frequency of their house keeping obvious by the sight of old bedding being thrown out.  I had always hoped to see them bringing new bedding, or indeed clearing the old, but never did. Contrast this with a fox den with usually two holes, although foxes have been known to live in a badger tunnel, but don’t share. The badger is fascinating animal which would, if lost to us, it would be an absolutely disastrous.

I treasure my memory of hand-rearing 3 orphan cubs in 1950; I had them in the house until they became mobile, as the rate at which they destroyed things was phenomenal. At my parent’s insistence I had to put them into a large aviary, built like a large box cage, three sides solid and a wire front starting two feet above the concrete floor. Left to their own devices they would have demolished that too, but they were such fun for a 12 /13-year-old boy.  I had planned ahead for their release. They could not go back to the original home, there was no abandoned sett in the area that I knew of. What I did have was a 90-acre pine wood on two sides of our house and farmland close by. We made an artificial sett and built a slow-release pen around it. They remained in or around, still being fed for a year.

If you want to watch badgers in the wild, there are a number of places where you can do so in comfort. Tewin Orchard Nature Reserve in Hertfordshire has an active sett and a viewing area where, you will be able to see these animals in their natural environment.

What can we as individuals do to help badgers.  For example: If you find a road casualty in the spring, and it is alive, contact a local wildlife rescue. If it is a lactating female, report it to the nearest Badger group (you can find them through the Badger Trust website). If you suspect that badger digging is taking place at a Sett, or baiting, call the police – your local force will have number of Wildlife Crime officers.

I have attended several of their annual conferences and they are dedicated men and women, who will take your information seriously. Hopefully you will never have to do any of the above but you never know what tomorrow will bring.

Graham Wellstead