National Badgers Day provides an opportunity for all involved in Badger conservation and protection to celebrate just how magnificent and important one of our oldest native species is to the British countryside and its people.
Badgers and their setts are fully protected by the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, and anyone who takes, kills or injures a badger, or who interferes with a badger sett, can be imprisoned or fined. Snaring, poisoning and badger baiting practices are illegal and cause unnecessary suffering and death.
The activity of baiting still goes on today and badgers suffer severe injuries before they are killed. Those involved use dogs and digging equipment to take badgers from their setts and the dogs are often badly injured as a result. Incidents of baiting is heightened in the winter months and in early spring, when Badgers are rearing young and likely to be occupying their setts for longer periods, however it can occur year round.
Members of the public are urged to provide information regarding persons engaging in such abhorrent activity and report dogs with untreated injuries.
If you see anyone acting suspiciously in an area where badgers live and are equipped with digging equipment and/or dogs, do not approach them. Provide the exact location of the badger baiting activity, descriptions of persons, dog(s) and activity observed and note the make, model, registration number and any distinguishing features of the vehicle. Video footage may also assist police with enquiries if available.
Badgers are also victims of other forms of illegal persecution including instances of disturbance, damage and destruction of setts. Although this may indicate badger baiting, it could also be a consequence of persons damaging a sett or trying to get rid of badgers where their presence is viewed as inconvenient by forestry operations, agriculture or land development sectors. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) grant licenses allowing named persons to carry out actions that could otherwise constitute an offence and information is available on the SNH website (SNH Licensing). If you’re planning any activities that could affect badgers or their setts, you must make sure you adhere to the law.
Incidents of Badger Persecution should be reported to Police Scotland via 101 (or 999 in the case of an emergency). Alternatively, if you have non-urgent information about a crime you can also contact CRIMESTOPPERS anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Police Scotland work in collaboration with a range of partners including Scottish Badgers, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to ensure that those intent on persecuting Badgers face the full force of the law.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
