This week OBG has heard from two landowners that have heard about the badger cull licence been issued in Oxfordshire. These landowners are worried that the badgers on their land will be shot and killed.
Badgers can only be culled where the landowner has given written permission
The licence that has been issued for the killing of up to 2223 badgers by Natural England in Oxfordshire only covers the land with participating farmers: all freehold owners and tenants of accessible land who are in occupation of that land and have signed the TB Management Agreement which permits badgers to be culled.
Badgers cannot be shot on non-participating land: land within a control area that is not participating and where access has not been permitted for culling to take place.
Badgers are still legally protected
Badgers are still a protected species, any attempt to harm them outside of the permitted area is a crime. Under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 in England and Wales it is an offence to:
- Intentionally or recklessly damage or destroy a badger sett or obstruct access to it.
- Wilfully kill, injure or take a badger (or attempt to do so).
- Disturb a badger when it is occupying a sett.
- Cruelly ill-treat a badger.
- Dig for a badger.
- Cause a dog to enter a badger sett.
If you are concerned that an offence under The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 has taken place phone 101 and report it to the police.
If it is a crime in progress phone 999
Remember to obtain a crime number.
Also, report to your local Badger Group and The Badger Trust https://www.badgertrust.org.uk/report