Bloody badgers - what to do with the things

[Coximus]

Rightio:

Badgers
Sadly I have a large set next door, which has grown to over 12 badgers due to the mild winter.
Aside from the usual burrowing under fences letting stock out, this year they've attacked 3 ewes in labour, and taken a fair few lambs.

The last straw was last night - Putting the orphans out in pens with the flock for re-introduction, I saw the f**kers round on a lamb and ewe sheltering under a tree, the ewe ran off but the lamb ran into the fence, and two of the three badgers tore it to shreds before I could get over the fence and chase them off.

20 mins later the same set were by the hurdle pens trying to get at the orphans/ cades and were so effing confident I got to 10-12ft before they scarpered.

Surely It must be legal to deal with the things if their in the process of Killing stock?
The badger set has been littered with lamb legs, heads etc every week now since april started - They've taken at least 7-8 I can emphatically say was them, and theirs another 3 uncounted for which have vanished.

 

[upnortheast]

Not the thing to discuss on a public forum

 

[Coximus]

Not the thing to discuss on a public forum

I see your angle - But I feel it needs to be public - the law needs changing, they're vermin and need controlling just like rats and foxes!
They do more damage and are more vicious about it, than kites, falcons and foxes combined!

 

[milkloss]

Get someone involved to film the Badgers hunting lambs and what they get up to. You could possibly use it as evidence and get a licence to destroy? If you did it would be a major coup.

 

[Henarar]

Get someone involved to film the Badgers hunting lambs and what they get up to. You could possibly use it as evidence and get a licence to destroy? If you did it would be a major coup.

at lest it would make for comment on FB
send it to Brian May
mind you I think I would be to busy getting the vermin away from the lambs to film it

 

[Coximus]

at lest it would make for comment on FB
send it to Brian May
mind you I think I would be to busy getting the vermin away from the lambs to film it

How would you go about getting a licence? Is their a process for this or any precedent?
This set has obviously got the taste, and has figured out that before sunset when they settle to cud is the time to separate lambs and ewes and take them, so will only get worse. Theyre responsible for 60% of my lamb losses this year, and 5% of all lambs born....

 

[llamedos]

Pictures pictures pictures - without these your evidence in anecdotal at best.

 

[milkloss]

How would you go about getting a licence? Is their a process for this or any precedent?
This set has obviously got the taste, and has figured out that before sunset when they settle to cud is the time to separate lambs and ewes and take them, so will only get worse. Theyre responsible for 60% of my lamb losses this year, and 5% of all lambs born....

I am sure somehow there must be farmers/ hunters / shooters with trail cams, thermal and nightvision that would be prepared to spend a while filming and making a compelling video for the authorities to see when applying for a licence.

No hope of getting a licence without a lot of evidence and several organisations behind you I should think. Don't go at it half cocked this is the type of thing that is very important to farmers and wants some serious weight behind it.

That's if you're up for it!

 

[Henarar]

How would you go about getting a licence? Is their a process for this or any precedent?
This set has obviously got the taste, and has figured out that before sunset when they settle to cud is the time to separate lambs and ewes and take them, so will only get worse. Theyre responsible for 60% of my lamb losses this year, and 5% of all lambs born....

I wouldn't know how you get a licence @matthew ?
We had a couple taken we think by badgers and ended up shutting them in by night for weeks, we have now left them out but we put some Stockholm tar on them first which is meant to help

 

[CopperBeech]

Two options - document everything and go through the very slow process of trying to change people's opinions.

Or.......

 

[Bruce Almighty]

I heard years ago that dipping lambs tails in creosote put them off

 

[ns_sheep]

Things are quite different over here I know, but have you thought of using dogs? Guard dogs will live with the sheep and protect them 24/7, no need to worry about many predators with good dogs really. My neighbour lost 10 (of 18) ewes + lambs to coyotes a couple years ago, sold him 2 dogs and he hasn't lost any to predators since. The dogs can be a pain, but I couldn't imagine losing sheep/lambs to predators and not being able to do anything about it.

Over here bald eagles are a problem during/after lambing and they are a protected species. It takes a few dogs to cover a large area but they won't let any large birds land in or around the field. They will chase or kill anything they consider a threat to their sheep, I couldn't see little badgers causing them much grief as they have no problem handling a black bear.

 

[Kidds]

Things are quite different over here I know, but have you thought of using dogs? Guard dogs will live with the sheep and protect them 24/7, no need to worry about many predators with good dogs really. My neighbour lost 10 (of 18) ewes + lambs to coyotes a couple years ago, sold him 2 dogs and he hasn't lost any to predators since. The dogs can be a pain, but I couldn't imagine losing sheep/lambs to predators and not being able to do anything about it.

Over here bald eagles are a problem during/after lambing and they are a protected species. It takes a few dogs to cover a large area but they won't let any large birds land in or around the field. They will chase or kill anything they consider a threat to their sheep, I couldn't see little badgers causing them much grief as they have no problem handling a black bear.

The whole badger issue in the UK is due to their over protection as a result of a minority setting dogs on them. Dogs are not the answer.

 

[M-J-G]

Video it! That way it's undeniable evidence of what you have described.
Otherwise the OP can be accused of belly rumbling by anyone who doesn't want to believe what you're saying.

 

[matthew]

unNatural England are the licensee. You may get a license to move them on. One way gates etc. Problem is, they are likely to come back to their own territory. And it will take you until next lambing time.

I don't agree that it is not a subject for a public forum. The yoghurt knitters are fed the line that badgers are cuddly nocturnal creatures which eat earthworms. End of. And lambs get killed anyway, same as cattle, so wot's the problem?
A reality check is needed.

We had a calf with its spine bitten in half several years ago. It had rolled under a wire back fence were mum couldn't protect it. We had to shoot it.

You are unlikely to get license to close the sett any time soon. Meanwhile, the lives, health and welfare of your stock are your responsibility.

The old method was a billy goat running with sheep. Guarding against all verminous critters.

 

[beefandsleep]

I agree, obtain video and photographic evidence. But as for the solution to your particular problem, well, you know what it is really.

 

[ns_sheep]

Maybe dogs aren't the answer, but I know I couldn't sit back and loose my sheep/lambs to predators. You can't kill them all, and things will probably get worse when parts of the UK are "rewilded" either legally or not. Similar situation in NA where wolves are being re-introduced in some areas where they were once hunted to extinction.

 

[Guiggs]

I was told that in order to get a licence it has to be urgent..However the fact it could take some time (a couple of weeks?) To get the right people out to see you in itself proves it's not urgent!!!
Go figure! !

 

[jade35]

Was going to suggest http://www.southwest-tbadvice.co.uk/ for advice on badgers but I see the project has ended and they are referring people to this website http://www.tbhub.co.uk/ which covers the UK. Am unsure of the help available but, if they are not contacted for advice they will not know of the problems faced by individual farmers.

 

[scottish-lleyn]

Defo dont Accidentally drop a bag of beet pulp down there sett as they may accidentally eat it and accidentally burst.