Badgers numbers reach fox levels

[Guest little_lloyd]

Badgers are now as common in England's countryside as foxes, according to the results of a survey revealed recently from the Central Science Laboratory (CSL), conducted as part of DEFRA's background investigations prior to potential changes in Government policy towards management of the badger population.

 

The CSL's survey, conducted in the spring of last year in separate areas of England, found badger densities in open pasture to be as high as 4.3 per sq km in Devon, ranging down to 1.5 per sq km in Herefordshire. The figures were broadly similar to populations of foxes in open pasture, though they were substantially higher than numbers of hares and deer. Significantly, the survey also investigated hedgehog populations and identified a correlation between high badger populations and low hedgehog numbers.

 

The results of the survey have increased pressure on DEFRA to authorise controlled culls of badgers to help tackle the transmission of bovine TB. Members of the farming community calling for controlled culls have been set against those who argue strongly that badgers are not responsible for transmission of the disease.

 

The National Gamekeepers' Organisation (NGO) has been involved in the issue for several years — last year the organisation responded to DEFRA's consultation on the issue of badger control, specifically discussing management techniques. Back as far as 2003, however, the NGO wrote to DEFRA's head of wildlife management, stating: Gamekeepers know that wildlife simply cannot tolerate current badger numbers without there being significant harm of some sort. These are big and powerful mammals, and current densities on some farmland of one adult to every four hectares must be having huge biological impacts. Some gamekeepers believe that badgers are responsible for the apparent decline of the hedgehog.

[jonathan 0]

when lamping i see more badgers then foxes

[Guest bob]

i would say theres more badgers than foxs here

[Guest little_lloyd]

Something has to be done before all hell breaks loose Bagdgers should be allowed to be legally controlled!!

[Guest little_lloyd]

Badgers should be left alone as all they are doing is trying to live and get fit..

Millet

 

So are foxes,rabbits, rats and everthing else yet they still have to be controlled

[millie 1]

Yeah their cute and cuddly and should be left alone

[Guest MOLLY]

And very pretty to look at

MOLL.

[Guest MOLLY]

Oh yes. They are black and white, with a lovely thick coat and gorgeous little eyes.

Ill see if i can tempt some more into my garden with table scraps and ill take a picture for you :kiss:

MOLL.

[Guest WILF]

A great shame that they are elusive in some parts of this green and pleasant land.........I will try to get a pic for you also as thet are crawling out of every hedgerow around these parts ........wonderfull animals.

[Guest Frank]

I use to cull them for the dept of agriculture over here, with live catch snares.

In areas which had a high TB rate, i would be called to cull them and from my personall experince, it worked.

TB was gone, when the badgers causing it, were taken out.

They are most definately the cuase of TB, amongst domestic cattle.

 

The method i used was to catch them alive in the snare on their runs, then dispatch them with a .22LR rifle, with a shot to the head, at close range, very humane.

All snares were checked every morning.

 

Frank.

[RatSnatcher 0]

I've seen more dead badgers on the road, than any other year for sure

[jasper65 6]

There's alot round this way! there's a wood along the A47 where there's one fresh hit near enough once a week. out of Interest wern't shaving Brushes made from Badger hair many moons ago? ....

[old man 0]

In my part of Devon there are more Badgers than fox's , when out with the lamp you can see a badger in nearly every field

[cragman 2,770]

Don't forget, when you're out driving, if you see one, swerve to hit miss it. If you do hit one by accident....don't forget to reverse over it to make sure it's dead, we must put it out of its misery PDQ.

[waz77 15]

Stop picking on em! I love badgers