Rescuer admits defeat in battle to keep Harriet the badger

An ecologist from the Borders has admitted defeat in his battle to be allowed to keep a badger he nursed back to health after she was found in a cattle trough.

Graeme Wilson, who runs a small wildlife rehabilitation service at his home in Denholm, had an application to keep the animal - named Harriet - rejected by NatureScot.

His bid to keep the badger was then strongly criticised by three animal welfare charities.

Wilson said Harriet had been moved to a new home which was licensed to keep her and he was going to take a break from wildlife rescue.

He was called out to help the badger when she was found in the trough about 300ft (100m) from her sett.

He believes she had been hand-reared prior to this and would not survive in the wild.

He applied to NatureScot to be allowed to keep Harriet using an educational licence, but it turned the application down.

Then the British Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, Scottish Badgers and the Badgers Trust issued a statement criticising his actions and saying they raised serious animal welfare concerns.

The BWRC, which works in wildlife casualty welfare in the UK, said it had suspended Wilson's membership as he had not upheld its principles.

It opposes the permanent captivity of any native British wild animal and said they should be humanely euthanised in all but exceptional circumstances if they cannot return to the wild.

Wilson told BBC Scotland News he had given up his fight to keep Harriet and she had now been moved to a licensed home.

"I always said, I'd be delighted if Harriet could stay with me, but I'd be heartbroken if she had to go," he said.

"However, I just wanted her safe and that was all this was about.

"She is now somewhere safe and free from the threat of being forced into release where she was likely to die or euthanasia or going to a zoo where she was going to be stressed out - none of them are going to happen now.

"She's going to have a long, happy life."

He confirmed he intended to take a "wee break" from wildlife rescue following the statement by wildlife organisations which he said had led to some people approaching him and a colleague with "very nasty" comments.

He stressed that from the outset he had liaised with others including vets, badger groups and other rehabbers and Harriet's care had been based on those discussions.

Scottish Badgers said it understood why so many people had been moved by the story of the badger at the centre of a "difficult and emotional debate about her future".

"Nobody wants Harriet to suffer," it said.

"Like everyone we want this badger to live, and above all to live the best life that is possible for her now.

"The challenge now that she is in some form of sheltered environment is to look to her future and to understand what arrangements can best and genuinely fulfil her range of needs."

It added the case showed there were lessons to be learned in terms of responsibilities to co-ordinate action from the earliest stage when "challenging situations" like this one came long.

The Badger Trust says that if you find an injured or unwell badger, contact a reputable and experienced wildlife rescue centre, a local badger group, the RSPCA or the Scottish SPCA for support.

A cub seen alone is not necessarily orphaned, so seek advice before intervening. If it is safe to do so, keep your distance, note where you found it and what you observed, and keep people and dogs away.

Do not feed it, move it, take it home or handle it. Let experienced rescuers advise on what to do next.