A tiny badger cub found alone in the Isle of Wight countryside has sparked a fresh warning from rescuers after a busy start to April dealing with multiple wildlife incidents.
Badger Trust Isle of Wight (BTIOW) were called out on Saturday night after walkers discovered a 7-8-week-old cub on her own.
On arrival, the Trust found the cub was extremely cold. She was placed into a cub cage with a small heater under blankets to slowly raise her temperature.
Following a call to Friends of the Animals, the cub was taken to a veterinary practice for examination. She was almost hyperthermic and required warming alongside overnight feeds.
The following morning, Graham Lee from the Trust collected the cub and continued feeding and caring for her, while also searching the surrounding area for a sett in the hope she could be returned to her mother.
Despite an extensive search, no sett was located and how the cub ended up alone remains unknown.
After further overnight care, a decision was made to transfer her to a specialist wildlife rescue centre on the mainland for ongoing treatment.
On Monday, Graham and Jo from the Trust completed a 225-mile round trip to Secret World Wildlife Rescue in Somerset, where the cub was safely delivered and settled into her new surroundings.
Graham said the cub appeared content and was soon seen playing with a teddy bear.
She is expected to be introduced to other rescued cubs to form a group before eventually being released into a purpose-built artificial sett once old enough.
The rescue comes during a particularly busy period for BTIOW.
Over the past 2 weeks, the Trust has also responded to another cub sighting in woodland, although it had returned underground before they arrived.
In addition, four adult badgers have required assistance. One was discovered injured in a stable, while three others were found struggling to move, either due to road traffic collisions or old age.
One elderly badger was suffering from spinal problems, a heart murmur and cataracts.
Graham Lee, Badger Trust Isle of Wight, has said:
“It’s always sad finding badgers like this as they can no longer survive in the wild and they are clearly struggling.
“It’s a very difficult decision to make, but on welfare grounds they sadly have to be put to sleep. We can’t save them all, but we can at least end their pain and suffering.”
The Trust has also highlighted the ongoing impact of road traffic collisions, with Island Roads collecting 13 deceased badgers from roadsides in the past 2 weeks – an average of almost one per day.
BTIOW has thanked Friends of the Animals for covering veterinary costs, as well as Wight Vets and The Carisbrooke Vets for treating injured badgers, often late at night.
Members of the public are now being urged to remain vigilant.
Anyone who spots a small badger cub alone is advised to contact the Trust via their website at www.badgertrust-isleofwight.co.uk or through their Facebook page.
The Trust stresses that people should stay with the cub but not attempt to pick it up, as despite their appearance, badgers are wild animals and can bite.
What about elderly humans whom are alone freezing to death at least the critters are covered in fur
Nutcase
Great to know the badger is doing well.