Last week Bristol Wildlife Rescue received a call about a badger cub out during the day and moving about. The rescuer went to the property and photographed the cub which was not happy that people were present so moved off into bushes. It was followed right back to a sett that the reportee had no idea was there.
This highlights two things. The main one is that badgers and particularly cubs when they get old enough will move around areas they feel safe in. They rely on smell and hearing rather than eye sight.
The second point is that such cubs should NOT be trapped and taken away as "at risk". Secret World removed two cubs from Ashton Court and were then stuck with two healthy cubs and nowhere to release them BECAUSE they had not carried out the most basic and first item on the list: contact the local badger group (BBG) and ascertain where any setts are so that the cubs can be observed and checked to see they do go back to a sett.
We need to get rid of the myths that have become 'facts' and are even promoted by rescues and wildlife hospitals because they accept dogma simply because they are not field naturalists and very few have seen a badger let along studied their behaviour.
photos (c) 2026 Bristol Wildlife Rescue/Sarah Mills
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