Lucy Grossmith for Etsy
How to stop TB in badgers & cattle has been an area of stress for many years now for cattle, badgers, farmers and wildlife campaigners. TB is a horrid disease that causes great suffering for cattle, and also for badgers. And of course farmers end up suffering too, watching their herds die. But if you read between the lines, a lot of the answers on how to stop this tragedy are already in place, but government does not act.
Catriona Hall for reen Pebble
Years ago, there was hardly any TB in cattle, which strongly suggests modern farming methods. In a nutshell, badgers have been taking the blame, because they transmit the TB to cattle. So up until recently, the knee-jerk reaction was to carry out badger culls, which everyone said would not work. They have now finally given up, but not before killing hundreds of thousands of innocent animals (and this does not mean that upcoming culls are cancelled). If they had listened in the first place, both species would be better off.
All the experts agree that it’s mostly about cattle-to-cattle transmission, and that different farming practices are needed. These methods are supported by TV wildlife presenter Simon King, Brian May (who is a qualified scientist as well as Queen guitarist) and numerous wildlife charities, including the RSPCA. If badgers caused the problem, they would not have cattle TB in the Isle of Man (where there are no badgers).
Years ago, a Devon farmer called Dick Roper decided to try something. Knowing that badgers loved maize (which gave low immunity), he installed ‘mineral licks’ around his farm, and the badgers used them. Their immunity improved so they didn’t get TB, and as a result, his herd were TB-free. Enthralled by this discovery, he contacted the government who did – nothing. That was years ago.
How to Help Badgers & Cattle
Lucy Grossmith for Etsy
- Badger Trust exists to promote and enhance the welfare, conservation and protection of badgers, their setts and their habitats. A leading voice for badgers in England and Wales, it has a network of around 60 local groups alongside thousands of supporters. It offers expert advice on all badger issues and works closely with the government, police and conservational organisations for better protection, mostly in the fields of stopping culling and wildlife crimes, and preventing habitat loss and road traffic accidents.
- The Badger Vaccination Project is an effective tool to give nature a helping hand, to lower transmission and outbreak of bTB in badgers, and this in turn helps cattle and farming communities. This method is more effective and most cost-effective for taxpayers. Vaccination only costs around £200 to cage trap, vaccinate and release a single badger, and vaccinating badgers that don’t have bTB can significantly reduce the risk of these animals having cubs who may contract the disease.
- Can the Cull is a campaign by the Badger Trust, where you can find out all the reasons to not engage in badgers culls, and find alternative ways to help badgers, cattle and farmers. Over 140,000 badgers have been killed since 2012, using misguided and flawed science to control bovine Tuberculosis (bTB0, an infectious respiratory disease that affects cattle. Yet 94% of cattle infections are from cow to cow and scientists and vets are asking the public to help them educate the government. The issues are more to do with poorly regulated cattle movement, poor biosecurity and an outdated and unreliable testeing regime. So the solution is not badgerr culls, but better cattle testing and controls on cattle movement, effective slurry management, additional biosecurity measures and cattle vaccination.
- TB Hub has info on the 5 laws to prevent TB infection in cattle, believed to be the main risk of transmission. This involves restricting access from infected badgers (via barriers), properly managed cattle feed and water, and minimising infection from cattle manure.
- Homeopathy at Wellie Level offers homeopathy courses for farmers. They don’t deal specifically with TB, but they have many fans including an Irish farmer whose cattle all got mastitis. He used their services then went back to being a sceptic, until they got mastitis again. So he went back, and now they have a lifelong customer.
- The Badger Book is a guide to these enigmatic mammals, with fresh information at England’s largest carnivorous animal. Alongside beautiful photography, the book examines the science (and politics) around bTB and the controversial badger cull, as well as introducing ordinary people dedicated to rescuing them. Includes a meander through the myth, legend, art and literature of badgers. Written by animal welfare champion Jo Byrne.
It is both sad and shameful that when night falls (and the setts of southern England stir) their gentle folk will be needlessly slaughtered. That in spite of science and public will, the wrath of ignorance will further bleed our countryside, of its riches of life. Chris Packham
10 years of study, the leading scientific brains – all said the cull of badgers will do nothing to improve the condition of cows. And more importantly the status of bovine TB in the British Isles. Simon King
Over 100,000 badgers have been killed since the cull began. Yet it hasn’t made any difference. BtB levels remain the same. Brian May
Let’s Meet Some Badgers!
Also read up on lots of ways to help cow friends, as they get a poor deal, and are just as lovely! As there is already a post about cattle, here are some fun facts about badgers. Ecological writer Satish Kumar writes that unless you love Nature, you cannot help her. So by learning a bit more about badgers, we learn to help them. Around a fifth of badgers get killed each year on our roads, so learn how to make our roads safer for all wildlife and keep a note of your local wildlife rescue team (or failing that your vet) in case you come across injured creatures. If you see a badger caught in a snare or fence, Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital do not advise cutting it free, as it may run off injured and later develop pressure necrosis, where the skin dies and open wounds appear. Wait for the experts to advice and arrive.
Badgers are unmistakale mammals, that live in small groups in setts underground. These are like rabbit burrows, and many have existed for hundreds of years, and have several entrance and exit points. These nocturnal animals never use the sett to eat or go to the loo, keeping it clean for all other residents. They also change the bedding frequently, to keep it clean, often lining their ‘beds’ with grass and leaves, for a good (day’s!) sleep.
There are 8 species of badger, but we claim it as a native, although it does not exist on the Isle of Man (where they have TB, see the link above to prove that culling is not the answer). Badgers are also not found on the Scottish Highlands or Channel Islands. They have existed for 250,000 years and sausage dogs (German ‘badger hounds’) were used to flush them out of setts, in hunting days.
Badgers will eat many items from fruit to birds’ eggs, although one of their favourite foods is earthworms. Like moles, they have the perfect claws for digging, and they also like elderberries (and alas) hedgehogs, as their strong claws are not deterred by the all the spines. Back in the days of lots of hedgerows, hedgehogs were one of their main foods. Today they eat several hundred worms a night, which makes their poo all thick and slimy!
It’s illegal to privately harm badgers (outside the cull), so report it to Wildlife Crime Unit, Animal Crimewatch or Crimestoppers (anonymous, if wished). The law was changed in 1992 to stop people trapping them for spor. Cubs are born in winter, but spend a few months underground, before coming up to get to know the countryside.
Should you feed badgers if they visit your garden? A bit like all wildlife, it’s best really to let them find their own food (England has plenty of worms!) The issue is that they come to rely on you, and could come to harm, or die if you moved, went on holiday or died yourself. In severe weather if you think they are truly short of food, The Badger Trust recommends in emergencies to leave out water and (covered) cat biscuits (rather than nuts, which could be choking hazards for birds and pets).
Small dogs often go down badger setts. If this happens, call your local badger group for advice, as the wrong actions could harm both your dog and the badger. In summery, their advice is not to dig, identify the hole and keep an eye on it until help arrives, and stay at the set, as most come out for food and water, or if they hear you or a favourite toy.
