Mission to save badger cubs after home is destroyed by an excavator
MOTHER YET TO BE FOUND
VOLUNTEERS at a local wildlife rescue organisation were called to help three badger cubs whose sett was accidentally destroyed by an excavator. Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue received a report that the cubs had been discovered when a worker uncovered the sett – an underground home – while digging in an undisclosed location. The “devastated” worker halted the excavation to seek help. A detailed rescue plan was then drawn up, involving discussions between the volunteers, members of badger groups from Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire, wildlife expert Jean Thorpe, and the police. The volunteers were determined to ensure that they took the correct action for the welfare of the cubs.
After “careful consideration”, volunteers made the decision to take the cubs from the destroyed sett in the hopes of returning them to their mother later that day. However, the mother has yet to be found.
In a statement on its Facebook page, Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue said: “We set up one of our remote 4G wildlife cameras to monitor the area and to immediately alert us if the mother returned, but sadly, no mother or any other badger returned.
“We are continuing to monitor the area, but sadly, as each night passes, the ability to return the cubs gets less and less.
“For now, the cubs are being kept safe by Jean Thorpe CBE, who is highly regarded as an expert witness for badger crimes and has vast experience in badger rehabilitation. Thank you to all the services that played a part in this
Thank you to all the services that played a part in this rescue.
Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue
rescue.
“This one rescue took our volunteers five-and-a-half hours of planning, rescuing and transporting.” Badgers and their setts are protected by law. According to the RSPCA, people should seek expert help if they find badger cubs without a parent and the sett is damaged, or the cubs are sick, injured or in danger.