Dithering by our, er, lords and masters seems part of present-day political life, but to plan to exterminate creatures in our natural world, our noble badgers, which the government had only recently reprieved from slaughter, seems grossly cruel, insensitive, and nonsensical.

In the crosshairs ... A badger whose species is under threat by a government that says they will be safe and then plans a massive slaughter. Photo by Hans Veth Hans Veth on Unsplash

What human in Britain didn’t have badgers among their imagination's companions as children thanks to tales like Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows?

Wonderful

They are wonderful critters in in real life, too, in their smart costumery, even if, as in Wind in the Willows, they are somewhat solitary.

But then singlehanded Cape Horners can be like that, too, I've heard tell.

Of course, that may be what allows some to achieve rather different goals than many in the population desire.

... as a keen member of the RSPCA and a respecter and admirer of our animal world, I offer an emphatic Yes! to the RSPCA's reminder that ‘there are far more humane and impactful methods of controlling the spread of bovine TB in cattle.

As author Kenneth Grahame revealed, they can be pleasingly accommodating. He’s referring to badgers here, of course. Lone Cape Horners were rather scarce back then.

Lost in the woods

In the story, Mole searches for Badger one snowy night, gets lost in the wild woods, and happily is found by concerned friend Rat.

Wikipedia reminds us, ‘Attempting to find their way home, Rat and Mole quite literally stumble across Badger's home – Mole barks his shin on the boot scraper on Badger's doorstep.'

Badger, in his dressing gown and slippers, welcomes Rat and Mole to his large and cosy underground home, providing them with hot food, dry clothes, and reassuring conversation.

True, I’m not a farmer concerned about the spread of Bovine TB in cattle, though love of the outdoors and the farming life during childhood certainly had me living and helping on farms in school holidays.

However, as a keen member of the RSPCA and a respecter and admirer of our animal world, I offer an emphatic Yes! to the RSPCA's reminder that ‘there are far more humane and impactful methods of controlling the spread of bovine TB in cattle.'

Devastating news

RSPCA vice-president Chris Packham says, ‘The devastating news of extension of badger cull makes very little sense.’

'Badgers are wonderful creatures which are a staple in the British countryside.

‘Ironically they are a protected species so we need to support them as best we can.’

‘We owe it to cattle to get this sorted, as the longer it takes for the cattle vaccination to be developed, more cows will be removed from herds around the country due to bovine TB.

'The welfare of cattle is just as much a concern as badger welfare in this sorry state of affairs.’

Give the badgers a voice

Chris’s statement is here. He says, ‘We need to give badgers a voice - and that time is now for the Government to listen.’

It seems a very worthwhile campaign, which I'll also join.

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