Government 'to back badger cull for South West'

[Beardo]

Update:

 

The government is expected to announce it will back a widespread cull of badgers in south-west England.

 

The coalition has always said it was "minded" to introduce culling to help fight bovine TB.

 

A similar badger cull was approved in Wales but the decision was overturned in the High Court.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14195808

[CharlieT]

I have a horrid feeling that should this legislation be passed it will prove to be a double edged sword and we may rue the day such legislation was passed.

 

I suspect that very stringent and transparent licensing and cull returns will be introduced to appease the badger lobby together with the publication of the details of those applying for licenses. As such this will give a clear snapshot of all badger sets across the South West and encourage "monitoring" by pro badger groups.

 

I would imagine that licenses will only be issued to named individuals on named land and detailed returns will be required.

 

A real can of worms that may not achieve what is really necessary.

 

Let us hope the government has the will to introduce robust and workable legislation.

[al4x]

this is where the media is pretty shocking try a view from the farmers weekly site and you go from a "widespread cull" to a trial on two areas

 

http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2011/07/19/127883/Government-set-to-announce-cull-decision.htm

 

Its hard to know what the outcome will be or if you could ever have a proper trial with the intervention of badger groups. As Charlie says the paperwork side of it will need to be pretty confidential to protect those in the area and those doing the deed.

[rimfire4969]

There are a huge amount of badgers down here and closed herds keep getting tb, one just down the road. Nobody wants them wiped out just kept in check.

 

I have been told that there are already letters from antis going to some farmers advising them against a cull or there could be trouble. Don't know how true that is though but it would not surprise me.

[artschool]

sounds interesting

[Kes]

Here in Cheshire we dont seem to have much bovine TB - could be wrong on that but whatever, there are too many badgers.

Badgers die on the roads in hundreds around here - saw 4 in 12 miles recently. Hedgehogs used to be the main victims of RTA's but no longer.

Farmers seem to think that leaving them ensures there are no immmigrant badgers that could be infected with TB.

At home the B******* have taken 4 of my chickens dug through a rabbit proof fence in dozens of places and destroyed large areas of the lawn.

If Ieave chicken food out and wait, the badgers appear at 9.30 pm knock over the feeder and binge. They have consumed all my strawberries and other fruit. One even tried to attack my son when he was jogging round a field close to the house.

If they do anymore damage i'll be applying for a licence to cull and rid myself of them for a while.

On our shoot there are a good number - cant go out foxing without them snuffling by. The number of times I have been about to lift the rifle only to see the black and white snout.

Didnt they used to make shaving brushes with their hair?