Badgers

Badgers are extremely powerful animals despite their sometimes ‘cuddly’ look, and they are capable of causing major injuries and serious bites.

DO NOT attempt to pick up or touch an injured badger unless you are experienced in dealing with animals such as these. Even a small cub can give a nasty bite and should not be handled.

If you find an injured badger, call your nearest wildlife rescue centre straight away.

BADGER IN THE ROAD – If you come across a badger in the road that has been hit by a car, call your nearest wildlife rescue centre immediately and if possible, stay with the badger until help arrives (in case it manages to move away, in which case, keep an eye on it but do not be tempted to touch it).

The Police may need to be contacted if it is causing a possible hazard for other road users. If it is in the middle of the road, causing a risk of an accident, try to make other road users aware of the danger by using your hazard warning lights and warning triangles (if you have them).

Unless you are 100% sure that the badger is unconscious, do not attempt to move it to the verge. If you have a coat or something similar, carefully cover the badger with it, keeping your hands well away from the badgers head.

BADGER CUBS – If you find a cub, please do not touch it as even youngsters are able to give a nasty bite.

Badger cubs do not emerge from their underground setts until they are at least 8 weeks old and therefore if the cub is very small, it should not be above ground or away from its mum so call your nearest wildlife rescue centre for advice immediately.

If you have some thick leather gloves and a large towel, the cub can be carefully picked up using these after placing a double-thickness towel or blanket over it. You will need a strong carrier or box (not cardboard) to put the cub in until help arrives. If it is a fairly large cub, out in the evening or at night, there may be nothing to worry about, but you need to get the advice of an experienced person in order to ascertain whether or not there is a problem.

SNARES & FENCES – If you find a badger caught in a snare or a fence, call for assistance immediately.

NEVER cut the wire and release the badger. Not only will you risk being badly bitten but a constriction injury often leads to what is called ‘pressure necrosis’. Even if it looks totally uninjured, the line where the wire or snare has been will often start to break down after a few days resulting in serious damage to the area and underlying tissue. If this happens after the badger has been released the injury is likely to become seriously infected, leading to septicaemia and possibly death.

Any animal which has suffered any sort of constriction injury must be kept for a minimum of 7 days before release in order to monitor the constriction site.

CONTACT US ON 01386 882 288 FOR ADVICE ON WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A SICK, INJURED OR ORPHANED BADGER. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO HANDLE OR TOUCH IT.

 

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