Wildlife Welfare

Badger Welfare: Culling Policy and Evidence

Badger culling in the UK to control bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is highly controversial, with ongoing debate about its effectiveness and the welfare implications for badger populations.

Key Facts

Badgers are a wildlife reservoir for Mycobacterium bovis, the cause of bTB in cattle
The UK government's culling programme has removed over 200,000 badgers since 2013
Evidence for culling effectiveness is contested, with the perturbation effect potentially increasing bTB in adjacent areas
Badger vaccination (BCG) is a welfare-sparing alternative and is being expanded
Badgers are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 except under specific licences

Welfare Considerations

Badger culling raises significant welfare concerns. Cage trapping and shooting can cause injury rather than immediate death. The perturbation effect causes surviving badgers to disperse, potentially spreading disease and disrupting social groups. Vaccination programmes are welfare-neutral compared to culling and may provide longer-term disease control benefits.

What You Can Do

Support badger vaccination programmes as an alternative to culling
Learn about the evidence debate on badger culling and bTB control
Report illegal badger persecution to the police and wildlife crime officers
Donate to organisations working on vaccine-based approaches to bTB control in wildlife