Somerset and Devon Badger Groups

It's not every day you see a badger's defence mechanism at work 🦡👀

📷 Angie - Badger Trust Supporter

Badger Trust Calls on MPs to Support Amendment 40 (previously 130) to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Badger Trust urges MPs to back Amendment 130 to protect badgers and ensure responsible, evidence-based environmental planning.

Badger Trust has asked us to share this. It needs to be done tonight as it goes to vote tomorrow (Thursday 13 November). Please scroll down to take action.

www.badgertrust.org.uk/post/badger-...

YouTube video by Somerset Badger Group The Gang of Three!

Meet the Gang of Three! 🦡🦡🦡

Believed to be a mum and her two cubs, this Devon badger family’s been helped by a kind member putting out food — first to keep them safe from roads, then through the dry summer drought. 💚

📹 Watch their adorable visits! #Badgers #Wildlife #Devon youtu.be/GcmxA3GoTLY

Cattle bovine TB vaccine field trials move to next phase Read about our Cattle Vaccine Project: APHA’s invaluable addition to the toolbox to eradicate bovine TB in the UK.

A new post, “Cattle bovine TB vaccine field trials move to next phase,” is live on the APHA Science Blog. Discover the Cattle Vaccine Project: a key tool for eradicating bovine TB in the UK.

aphascience.blog.gov.uk/2025/10/21/c...

#BovineHealth #VaccinationResearch #TBEradication

Badger cull dismantled from all sides in landmark Parliament debate The cull is collapsing under its own weight, and it is collapsing because people refused to accept a lie.

protectthewild.substack.com/p/badger-cul...

🦡 Badger Cull Ending!

2025 = final year of industry-led culls in England ✅
After this season:
🚫 No new licenses
📍 1 small area under review
💉 Vaccination + 🐄 cattle biosecurity take priority

(Hansard, 13 Oct 2025)

YouTube video by Somerset Badger Group Tail Tugging Trouble! 😄

Tail Tugging Trouble! 😄

Watch this mischievous badger get a taste of karma as it attempts to yank on another badger's tail!

It's a hilarious moment you won't want to miss! 🦡
#NatureComedy #CuteCritters #FunnyAnimals

youtu.be/h5n_09DMQGk

Celebrate Brocktober in style by knitting a charming spooky badger! 🎃 This delightful chocolate orange cover showcases an enchanting little witch badger flying on her broomstick. Grab the pattern for just £2 from our web store and receive it as a PDF! 🧙‍♀️

#Brocktober

The Badger Cull Debate is Finally Here, Now We Need Your Help After many months of relentless campaigning and pressure, we finally have a date.

The badger cull debate is here! 🦡

After months of campaigning, Parliament will discuss the petition to end it on Monday, October 13th.

Make a difference:
bit.ly/4mDBJNn
#EndTheCull #WildlifeProtection #PetitionForChange

YouTube video by Somerset Badger Group New hay, peanuts and an egg

One lucky badger — a full belly (peanuts and an egg) and a fresh hay bed to snooze on.
Wildlife luxury at its finest.

youtu.be/Czb-3G2WTTs

#BadgerLife #BadgerBedding #WildlifeAtNight

YouTube video by Somerset Badger Group Time for new bedding

🦡 Badgers are underground neat freaks!
They build multi-room setts with cosy bedding made of grass, moss & leaves—regularly cleaned & even sun-dried.
They prep for bad weather, avoid parasites & live tidier lives than most of us.

youtu.be/HaAHxXqX10M #BadgerBehaviour

What does it take to be a badger vaccinator? 🦡💉
Early mornings, late nights, muddy fields—and official APHA training.
3 modules, 4+ days, strict monitoring, and a year of fieldwork before training’s even funded.
It’s tough—but worth it.
#BadgerVaccination

On the last day of badger vaccinations in Dorset, our amazing volunteers successfully vaccinated four more badgers, bringing the grand total to ten over two days!

A huge thanks to everyone who contributed along the way.

You've truly made a difference! 🦡
#BadgerVaccination #ThankYouVolunteers

Badger waiting to be vaccinated.

Somerset Badger Group has recently vaccinated badgers in Dorset against bovine tuberculosis. Two volunteers vaccinated three cubs and three adults, all healthy! We aim to vaccinate more soon! 🦡

#BadgerVaccination

We had a fantastic time at Steart Marshes Dragonfly Weekend yesterday!

While attendance was low, we enjoyed lively chats with fellow badger enthusiasts—one even expressed interest in joining our group!

It turned out to be an amazing day for four of our committee members.

Mini knitted badger playing a pink edged keytar.

Discover our new mini badger collection at devonbadgergroup.fws.store

From gardening to musical themes and more each badger is £5, plus £3.90 postage. Order 2 and pay the same postage. We'll handle refunds if needed!

#QuirkyGifts #HandmadeWithLove

Over Half of UK Badger Population Killed: 247,880 Culled Since 2013 Official figures from Natural England released today reveal another 17,150 badgers were killed in 2024 culls.

With the 'intensive' badger cull approaching in 2025, Badger Trust reports half of Britain's badgers have been lost. However, our helpline indicates a gradual increase in local populations. 🦡 bit.ly/4frH6O0
#CanTheCull #StopTheCull

Mother badger sits on baby's head! Eurasian badgers, like many mammals, use scent marking to establish territory and social bonds — it’s their version of sending a strongly worded letter. But in a rather unexpected twist, this mother badger is not marking a tree or a trail... she's accidentally scent-marking her own cub by plonking herself right down on its head! Whether it’s a slip of maternal focus or just a badger version of tough love, this behaviour gives a whole new meaning to "sitting on your problems." In reality, cubs are often licked and nudged to pick up the group’s scent, but sometimes, it seems, nature just sits on you to make a point.

Eurasian badgers mark territory and social bonds with scent. In a humorous twist, this mother accidentally marks her cub by sitting on its head! While cubs typically get scents from licking, sometimes nature just sits on you!

bit.ly/46d3rw9

REVEALED: Farm inspection findings undermine case for badger cull - Protect the Wild Freedom of information requests reveal the state of biosecurity on farms participating in the cull, which casts doubt on case for continued badger killing

The cull policy assumes badgers spread disease, a view challenged by Protect the Wild. Biosecurity on farms is lacking. Natural England's inspections show minimal measures to prevent cow-badger contact, undermining the case for badger culling. bit.ly/40ZRg2b
#bTB

Dry spells can cause dehydration in wildlife.

➡️ Place shallow dishes of fresh water in shady spots
➡️ Clean and refill daily

🚑 **Bonus tip:** DIY Rehydration Fluid:
1L clean water + 1 tbsp sugar + 1 tsp salt (Stir until dissolved.)

#Badgers #UKWildlife #DrySpellCare

SUCCESS! Legal challenge against badger cull licensing gets go ahead Natural England is being hauled into court over its outrageous decision to authorise culls last year

Legal challenge against badger cull licensing gets go ahead

protectthewild.substack.com/p/success-le...

Find sustainable ways to make #spaceforbadgers and coexist with badgers at a time of environmental crisis. www.badgertrust.org.uk/space-for-ba...

Legal challenge against badger culling licences given green light to proceed - Wild Justice A legal challenge by wildlife groups The Badger Trust and Wild Justice against the granting of badger culling licences has […]

A bit of potentially good news for badgers from @wildjustice.bsky.social and @badgertrust.bsky.social !

#Badgers #badgercull

wildjustice.org.uk/general/lega...

Mini badger mowing the lawn Why not treat yourself to a charming knitted mini badger, lovingly designed and crafted by Sheena? This little guy is busy mowing his lawn! It's just 5 for the badger plus 3.90 for shipping. Buy two, ...

Spring has sprung, and this charming knitted mini badger is hard at work mowing his lawn! 🌼

Only one available for just £8.90 (£5 for the badger + £3.90 P&P).

Don’t wait to adopt him—act fast! Check out his details here:
devonbadgergroup.fws.store/product/mini...

This badger is on a mission to conquer the squirrel feeder!

Nothing will stand in its way as it boldly navigates every obstacle for that delicious prize! 🐾

youtu.be/1284RKzQvnA

Petition: End the Badger cull and adopt other approaches to bovine TB control The Government’s TB Eradication Strategy allows the continued killing of badgers, a protected species, until the end of this Parliament, despite the Labour manifesto calling the cull “ineffective.” W...

Time's running out! 🚨

The .gov petition to end the badger cull has one month left.

Sign now and help reach 100,000 signatures!

👉 Sign here: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...

YouTube video by Somerset Badger Group Sleeping badger

This footage shows a badger using an above-ground nest, an uncommon behavior in the UK. These nests, made from grass and leaves, are typically found hidden in dense underbrush. Watch as this badger yawns and settles down for a snooze! youtu.be/7bcBSqhkOJ8 #BadgerNests

On 5 April, we trained 6 new badger rescuers—5 from Devon and 1 from Somerset. With experienced helpers, they practiced using rescue equipment on life-sized badger models. Our helpline now has more scope to respond to emergencies phoned though to the 24/7 helpline.

Did you know you can now send reports such as RTC badgers, developments, request advice for garden issues on so on via WhatsApp on 07340 623 329.

For emergencies we would still recommend you to call the 07850 604 585 24/7 helpline number.

On 10 April, we had a record turnout for a badger cub rehabilitation presentation.

The speaker discussed the rehab process, including returning cubs to their natal setts and creating artificial ones. A Q&A session followed, and we enjoyed funny footage of the cubs' journey!