So everyone knows what a badger sett looks like from outside. If they are under your greenhouse, shed or conservatory you don't need to be told!
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You cannot, in any way, shape or form mess or disturb a badger sett. We were told by DEFRA (leading the unscientific badger cull) that if a sow badger was dead outside a sett entrance and we knew there were cubs inside we would be prosecuted if we even tried to rescue the cubs. They should be allowed to starve to death inside the sett but if they left the sett they could be rescued. Putting just your hand inside and...prosecution.
So imagine when I am sent these photos taken by a dog walker(s) this morning at a site in Bristol.
There is absolutely no excuse for this especially in cub season. Every year I hear about walkers letting dogs chase young deer, foxes and cubs and wild rabbits and every time they are chastised "My dogs are well behaved and would not harm anything -it is their right to run free!" NOT when it is chasing wildlife and stressing it and injuring it. That -and the activity in these photographs- are wildlife crimes.
Just as the City Council are about to receive a notification about their workers damaging fox dens with cubs in them so the Avon and Somerset Police wildlife crimes team will hear of these activities.
DEFRA:
You could be sent to prison for up to 6 months and get an unlimited fine if you’re found guilty of any of these offences:
- intentionally capture, kill or injure a badger
- damage, destroy or block access to their setts
- disturb badgers in setts
- treat a badger cruelly
- deliberately send or intentionally allow a dog into a sett
Full legal do's and don'ts are here at DEFRA:
