Wildlife

Wild Badger Welfare and Persecution

Badgers face significant welfare threats through culling, habitat loss, road mortality, and persecution in many parts of the world.

Key Facts

In the UK, badger culling has been used as a control measure for bovine tuberculosis since 2013
Scientific evidence for the effectiveness of culling in reducing bTB is contested and inconclusive
Badgers suffer significant welfare harms during culling including injuries from imprecise shooting
Road mortality is a major threat in Europe, with thousands killed on roads annually
Badger baiting — the use of dogs to attack badgers — remains an illegal but persisting form of cruelty

Welfare Considerations

Badgers experience pain, fear, and distress from all forms of persecution. Culling by free shooting can result in prolonged suffering when not immediately fatal. Beyond direct harm, population-level suppression fragments social groups, causing prolonged social stress for surviving badgers. Vaccination programs offer a humane alternative to culling for TB control.

What You Can Do

Support wildlife charities advocating for badger vaccination programs over lethal culling
Report suspected badger baiting or sett interference to the police and wildlife crime units
Drive carefully in rural areas at night when badgers are most active near roads
Advocate for stronger enforcement of existing badger protection legislation