The Isle of Wight Badger Trust is warning members of the public of the severity of wildlife crime after a 10-week-old badger cub was killed last week in Whitwell.
It was just last week (6th May) that the Badger Trust Isle of Wight received reports from a member of the public that a young badger cub was seen in Whitwell and Ventnor with serious injuries to its neck.
Wight Hunt Sabs were in the area and kindly took time to pick up the injured cub, transporting her straight to The People’s Vet due to the immediate severity of her injuries.
A spokesperson for The People’s Vet said:
“A severely injured badger cub was treated by The People’s Vet. The cub had sustained severe bite wounds around the head, most likely from a dog or dogs. This unfortunate incident highlights the conflict that exists between our domestic animals and wildlife.”
Despite their best efforts alongside the Godshill RSPCA, the cubs condition worsened overnight, and on Wednesday morning, she was put to sleep with her welfare in mind.
Graham Lee from Badger Trust Isle of Wight said:
“This was a horrific dog attack on a defenceless 10-week-old badger cub which resulted in her suffering in pain for several days before being found.“Her skull was exposed in places, her ears were torn, she had maggots in her wounds, but despite this pain and suffering she was still feisty and alert when she was picked up and we all hoped she would pull through.“There’s no excuse for this to have happened – please keep your dogs under control in the countryside and keep them on a lead around badger setts.”
The Isle of Wight Badger Trust has warned the public that this incident has been reported to the police as a wildlife crime.
Graham continued:
“We would like to thank The People’s Vet and Friends of the Animals plus Godshill RSPCA Centre for their help and their care with this little cub.“If anyone has any information about this incident, please do get in contact with us so we can pass the information on to the investigating authorities.“Her life had ended before it had even begun – run free little one.”
This is really Sad!! People are the scum here for letting this happen!! They think its amusing just like the fox hunting that still goes on across the island!!
I agree it’s very sad the poor baby badger, what’s wrong with these people, they are sick if they let their dogs intentionally hurt badgers? The law needs to change all dogs should be on leads all the time they are unpredictable animals?
well done to all involved in trying to save the badgers life!
Bob where does the fox hunting go on? I would love to disrupt it as much as possible? it’s something I absolutely detest as a kid I lived on a road called fox road foxes roaming around in the woods at night, free!!
Can the Badgers Trust, identify where the sets are and put up signs DOGS MUST BE ON A LEAD HERE.
Sadly advertising the location of badger setts puts the badgers at risk from people who intentionally cause them harm.
And not only the advertising reality the scum who think this is “sport””suck d.c.s would take no notice of signs probably because reading is not one of their strong points in the backwaters of “huntlsnd”Whitwell ,Godshill ,Brighstone ,Chale and Sabs can tell you straight away what families are involved and the response it gets every time from the “Wildlife police”?it took a silly women 3 weeks to get back to me about proper wire snares in a copse we had sorted it out online by then!!.
Anyone caught with their dogs off a lead should be fined
heavily – NO EXCUSES.