Wildlife

Wildlife: Badger Sett Protection and Welfare

Badger setts are legally protected in UK but face disturbance from development, badger baiting and the contentious cattle tuberculosis cull programme.

Key Facts

Badger setts and badgers are protected under Protection of Badgers Act 1992
Badger baiting (setting dogs on badgers) is illegal but still occurs in UK
Badger cull to control bovine tuberculosis has killed over 200,000 badgers since 2013
Evidence for cull effectiveness in reducing cattle TB is contested
Culled badgers are shot by licensed contractors at night

Welfare Considerations

Badger baiting causes extreme suffering from injuries sustained in fights with dogs. Culling badgers with rifles in darkness risks non-lethal wounding causing suffering before death. The welfare case for the cull depends on unresolved scientific questions about its effectiveness in protecting cattle.

What You Can Do

Report suspected badger baiting to police immediately
Support Badger Trust campaigns against badger cull
Advocate for vaccination as alternative to lethal cull for tuberculosis control
Monitor badger setts for signs of disturbance and report to local police