Badger rescuer criticised by wildlife welfare charities

Three wildlife welfare charities have criticised a Scottish ecologist who is hoping to keep a badger he has nursed back to health.

Graeme Wilson was called out to help the badger, named Harriet, after she was found in a cattle trough 300ft (100m) from her sett.

He believes she was hand-reared prior to this and would not survive in the wild. He applied to NatureScot to keep the animal but they turned him down.

In a strongly-worded statement, the British Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, Scottish Badgers and the Badgers Trust said the case raised serious animal welfare concerns.

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

They "firmly oppose" the permanent captivity of any native British wild animal and says they should be humanely euthanised in all but exceptional circumstances.

Wilson, who has a licence to keep unreleasable bats, remains defiant and is convinced that he did the right thing.

He runs GW Ecology, a small independent wildlife rehabilitation service at his home in Denholm in the Scottish Borders.

"I've always taken the view that if it cannot be released, but it can be kept humanely in captivity, then that's what would happen," he said.

"If it can't be kept in captivity under humane conditions, then obviously euthanasia is the route to go."

The joint statement from the wildlife charities said it was a "deeply sad outcome" that Harriet had become so used to humans she could not be released into the wild.

"Wildlife rehabilitation is not about hand-rearing animals, becoming attached to them and then deciding they should spend the rest of their lives in captivity because improper practice has made them accustomed to human contact," they said.

"Her finder clearly had a good heart and good intentions but professional help from a reputable licensed wildlife rescue centre with the appropriate facilities should have been sought [when he found her]," they added.

"At that age, whether she was accustomed to humans or not, she should have been rewilded and grouped with other cubs for release later in the year."

They said the options for Harriet were "extremely limited" and include euthanasia or being placed in a zoo or sanctuary.

"To suggest that a zoo or sanctuary is an appropriate alternative demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding of the behavioural, social and welfare needs of badgers," they added.

"The current situation with the finder is not acceptable, appropriate or suitable for a badger."

Wilson is clear that the badger had been hand-reared before he was called to rescue her from the cattle trough.

"She was very thin," he said. "She needed critical care formula and food inside her very quickly. That's what happened.

"Over the next few weeks she put on weight. She was not engaged with at all, which was in line with various rehab recommendations."

When he took her back to her sett, he said she tried to climb a tree and "was freaking out" so he felt he had to take her home.

He said he wanted an educational licence so he could show people why it was important they do not hand-rear badgers.

"I didn't hand rear a badger," he said. "I took in a very, very, very ill, very hungry, dehydrated badger into care that had been hand reared... there is quite a big difference there."

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.