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Monday, 11 April 2022

Murder of the Badgers

I learned today of the number of badgers killed in the cull of last year. The official figure is 33,687, which brings the total since 2013 to more than 175,000. It is still not proven that badgers are responsible for the spread of the BTB. The infection is carried in the fluids of the body. Badgers have a latrine away from the sett. Unlike other animals who do it anywhere. Can you imagine cattle eating grass that another has urinated on. Work it out for yourselves it is almost impossible for a badger to infect a cow. I have had many photographic holidays on a  farm and one was in a red area during an outbreak a few years ago and on that farm were two setts that I knew of. We used to feed them and visitors could watch them on television. BTB was never a problem.
 Badgers are welcome on my property where there will be food and protection from stupidity.

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10 comments:

  1. David M. Gascoigne,11 April 2022 at 01:49

    Hello Mike:
    I don't know enough about this badger cull in Britain to comment cogently, but from everything I have read, and based on the opinions of fellow naturalists it appears to be a case of overkill, (pardon the pun) at best, and is driven by bureaucracy more than by science. They are wonderful creatures, and I hope that they are your companions forever. Your title "Murder of the Badgers" seems entirely appropriate to me. All the best, David

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    1. Mike Attwood11 April 2022 at 20:17

      Majority of people love the animals and countryside and vast numbers care as I do. Others form an opinion through so-called experts. When people get to know animals as I do their opinion changes. Every being on this earth is here for a reason and should be given the chance to show it. Thankyou David and take care.
      Mike.

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  2. Richard Pegler11 April 2022 at 15:39

    I hope that the insanity of the Badger culls ends soon, Mike. I find it totally incomprehensible that it ever started, let alone is still continuing. I've had the pleasure of watching Badgers live on several occasions (once with David, who has commented above!) and find them to be beautiful creatures. No, not you, David!

    We must keep up the pressure to stop this.

    Best wishes - - - Richard

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    1. Mike Attwood11 April 2022 at 23:45

      Hello Richard, I do my best and I am always pressurising the authorities where I can. but there are an awful lot of farmers pushing the government. It is illegal to kill them without a licence and I find many killed and the bodies left all over the place and the police don't want to know. I have photographed dead badgers lying in the road as if run over and on inspection I have found they have been shot with a rifle. They are loved by my neighbours so ours are safe. Take care.
      Mike.

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  3. waldlaeufer68 Frank Scholtyssek11 April 2022 at 19:39

    Hi Mike
    here in Germany it is even worse, all predatory game is shot down, it is almost impossible to see a fox or badger in nature. Some buildings are regularly flooded with liquid manure or covered with huge amounts of earth just so that the animals die... some hunters are such pigs and send their hunting dogs into the building to bite the little foxes and badgers to death... That has nothing to do with hunting do.... and believe me... if you took away the cell phone of every hunter right away and looked at the pictures and videos of your trophies and how they were taken, every second person would lose their hunting license. ...
    Greetings Frank

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    1. Mike Attwood12 April 2022 at 00:01

      That is disgusting Frank, Foxes are valuable to society as they control the the numbers of rats and mice with the help of badgers they keep the woolands clear of dead creatures (rats, mice and squirrels have a very limited life). Creatures die every day but you will rarely find a carcas because natures binmen clear up. Take care.
      Mike.

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  4. Germán Ibarra Zorrilla14 April 2022 at 17:56

    Me quedo aterrorizado leyendo sobre esta matanza, no lo sabía. Creo que se equivocan, no se le puede echar la culpa a los tejones. Espero que esto no pase en España, yo entraría en guerra con el que se le ocurra matar un tejón. La foto es muy bonita, enhorabuena Mike y gracias por compartir!!! Todo lo mejor desde el norte de España.

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  5. Mike Attwood14 April 2022 at 23:12

    Sorry German, Still having problems tranlating your message. Thankyou anyway. Take care,
    Mike.

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  6. Phil Slade17 April 2022 at 08:17

    Well said Mike. Once again there are people with a hidden agenda, so called "experts" who have little or zero knowledge of the real countryside. Unfortunately the sheep who are our leaders now do as they are told rather than investigate for themselves.

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    1. Mike Attwood17 April 2022 at 23:56

      Hi Phil, I have found that the small country farmers only allow the cull on their land because they are rewarded financialy but generally they like the badgers.Most people don't understand the ways of the badger. For a wild animal they have the cleanest habits of any animal. Cattle are kept under the filthiest conditions that I have ever seen. I am millitary medically trained with experience in a number of middle eastern countries and I think this country is the worst I have ever seen.
      Mike.

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Mike Attwood - Photographer

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About Me

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Evacuated during the second world war to a village in Yorkshire where I lived in the home of a good photographer for more than five years who taught me the basics and a great deal about nature. Well past retirement age I have been a wildlife photographer for more than 30 years. Red Kites have been my speciality for much of this period. I did spend several years snapping wheelchair athletes and organizing the British Road Race Championship. In the year 2000 I was awarded a distinction by the Royal Photographic Society for my portfolio on wheelchair athletes. Most of my pics are digital, using Sony cameras and Sigma lenses. I used to spend many weeks each year with friends in Wales which is close to the Elan Valleys where I got many of my raptor pics. I now get these pictures more closely to home, specially red kites and peregrines. I support my pension by selling my pics, cards, coasters, fridge magnets and key rings etc. at craft fairs, something I wish I had done much earlier in life. I give illustrated talks to clubs and societies on wildlife and other branches of photography that I have been involved in.