Badgers - how do you feel about them? (From Bromsgrove Advertiser)

Badgers - how do you feel about them?

12:00pm Tuesday 30th October 2012 in News

THE recent Government announcement saying it will delay a planned cull of badgers, may not come as good news to everyone.

A number of residents in the Bromsgrove area have been suffering due to the nocturnal and elusive mammals.

One garden in particular, in Stratford Road, belonging to a 90-year-old resident was recently destroyed by badgers.

They caused substantial damage to the lawn and other areas digging it up in the search for food.

Badgers and their homes (setts) are protected by law, but lawful actions can usually be taken to resolve, or at least minimise problems, without harm to the badgers or other animals.

Ministers, as well as The Department for the Environment, are adamant badgers must be killed to curb bovine TB in cattle.

Opponents call it a cruel and a costly distraction.

What do you think? Leave your comments at bromsgroveadvertiser.co.uk or facebook.com/thebromsgroveadvertiser.

FACT FILE:

Badgers are Britain's largest surviving carnivore.

A badger can live up to 15-years-old.

They can grow up to 31 inches.

Badgers feed on earthworms, frogs, rodents, birds, rabbits and mice.

Badgers are nocturnal and emerge from their setts at dusk.

They live in family groups, of up to 12 individuals.

While aggressive between themselves, they are shy animals.

Badgers have an extraordinary sense of smell and a sensitive nose.

A male badger’s territory can vary in size from 37 acres to 250 acres.

They mark the area using dung pits, secretions from the subcaudal gland (located under the base of the tail).