Badger Rescue Afternoon

On Saturday Oxfordshire Badger Group held a badger rescue information afternoon for its volunteers.

The first thing we learnt was the different types of injuries that the rescuers might come across, from territorial wounds, to being hit by a car, to injuries resulting from wildlife crime, orphaned cubs and the different types of illnesses that badgers can get.

 

Next a few people from the group, including my mum, talked through some of the rescues they have attended to show that each one is different. The location and the time of day can make a big difference.

I’ve been out on a few rescues with my mum and sister including a couple of orphaned cubs and a badger that had been hit by a car and was left for dead in a puddle. I’ve also been lucky enough to witness a rehabilitated badger being released back in to the wild.

Everyone got to have a go with the equipment which meant catching a cuddly toy badger with a grasper and putting it in to a rescue cage.

After that, our local wildlife crime officer spoke about wildlife crime in the Thames Valley area and how different groups can work together.

Following a break, Tess from The Nutkin Ward animal rescue, gave the volunteers lots of tips and advice on badger first aid.

Finally there was a section on different rescue centres, biosecurity and how volunteers should keep themselves safe.

During the afternoon I learnt a lot but I won’t be going out rescuing badgers on my own for a few years yet.