Bovine TB and badger culling

Since our talk last week we've had a number of people get in touch about learning how to sett survey and get involved in monitoring setts during the cull.
While spot checks continue in the original West Somerset zone, we ask that anyone who is going back to check setts there, that they let us know so we don't duplicate our effort

Thanks to those of your joining us for training later this week and next. Taking the first step seems hard but once you've met us and come out with us we promise you won't look back.

To support our efforts this year, if you would like to, here is our kofi account details ko-fi.com/somersetatbc ... See MoreSee Less

18 hours ago ·

Culling operations may have started in the original West Somerset zone.

Now labelled as supplementary culling, licenced operators can now kill badgers from end of June to early next year for both free shooting and cage-trapping & shooting.

Other licences for Somerset zones have yet to be issued so any culling of badgers here will be totally illegal. However if you see anything suspicious anywhere in Somerset, please report them to the police and tell us about it too since obviously no-one knows who’s a legal cull operator and who isn’t.

Sadly, in West Somerset where contractors may be out and about, their first target will be cubs who’ve only just survived their first few months. These have been more punishing than usual for them due to the intense heat and dryness that’s made food difficult to find so they will be particularly vulnerable right now. ... See MoreSee Less

2 days ago ·

Apologies for not updating people on activity here in #Somerset. Groups across the county are very busy sett-surveying in new areas and have been since November last year.
Vast amounts of data is being recorded which in turn can be used not just to organise pop-up patrols during the cull but it can also help with natal-returns of badger cubs and monitoring and reporting of wildlife crime.

Culling when it resumes will focus on new areas where they hope to reach their targets, quickly, but we have other plans.

If you’ve still not got in touch with us to join our network of protectors across #somerset - there is still time. ... See MoreSee Less

5 days ago ·

Somerset Against The Badger Cull shared Stop the cull's post.

If you live in Somerset we ought to be asking the police about trapping of badgers in this extreme heat and potentially extreme rain due in next few days.With culling underway very likely in the original Somerset and Glos cull zones, it's time to ask the police if they are enforcing the law with regards to cage trapping.
Badgers will suffer with exposure (any extreme in temperature) in this weather. Cage trapping MUST cease.
Glos:
www.facebook.com/gloucestershire.constabulary/
Avon&Somerset
www.facebook.com/avonandsomersetpolice/

this screenshot taken from page 3 of the cage trapping guidelines which must be adhered too for the licences to be valid.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/347537/ba... ... See MoreSee Less

6 days ago ·

Somerset Against The Badger Cull shared Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs's post.

Original ‘pilot’ cull zones have started culling already. Please report any activity to us or Somerset Hunt Saboteur Group - stay vigilant.*** BADGER CULL 2018 STARTED IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE ZONE 1 ***

11th July 2018. Set cages have been found in Gloucs zone 1 (the original cull zone). The cull has definately started in West Gloucs.

Repeat: the cull has started.

The licence was issued on 29th June 2018 so the cull could have started well over a week ago.

We need help on the ground and we need funds to help us get out. Please support us paypal.me/threecountiessabs ... See MoreSee Less

6 days ago ·

Bovine TB: authorisation for supplementary badger control in 2018

Heavily redacted info on Somerset's culling actives for this year despite consistent court rulings that the Govt should be more open and transparent.
We have no idea, of course, what area (or areas) are covered by this but cage trapping & shooting by licensed operators valid from 1 June - 30 November 2018; and free shooting from 1 June - 31 January 2018.
It is, without a doubt, a removal of the Protection of the Badgers Act by the back door - a blow against the democratic process, science and morality. Anyone who thinks this is just about TB should think again. This is a blow against everything we value highly - our wildlife, our natural heritage, and evidence-based Government policies. However since we have no idea who is a licensed operator or where they are operating, report every single incident involving trapping or shooting badgers to the police and email us. Thanks

www.gov.uk/government/publications/bovine-tb-authorisation-for-supplementary-badger-control-in-2018 ... See MoreSee Less

gov.uk

Authorisation for supplementary badger control in Gloucestershire and Somerset.

2 weeks ago ·