But efforts to protect this iconic mammal have been taking place at the same time as culling with up to 1,421 likely to have been killed since the end of August in Derbyshire.
“Whilst we are delighted that our dedicated team of staff and volunteers have vaccinated a significant number of badgers this season, we are appalled that the badger cull has been allowed to happen here in Derbyshire,” says Dave Savage, Landscape Recovery Manager for the Peak District at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. “Scientific evidence demonstrates culling is likely to be ineffective in fighting the disease and risks making the problem even worse.
“Vaccinating badgers against bovine TB is an important part of tackling the disease, but badgers are not the primary cause of the spread of bTB in cattle: the primary route of infection is from cattle-to-cattle,” Dave continues, “We believe that regulations and restrictions on cattle movements as well as the development of cattle vaccine are the best approach for the farming industry and our wildlife.
“The matter has been further exacerbated by the fact that, despite working closely with the Government to help train vaccinators from across the country since the programme began in 2014, we have yet to receive confirmation of DEFRA’s decision on the direction it will take on funding next year’s vaccination season.”
The open season for vaccinating badgers runs each year from May to November, after which time the government requires licence holders to submit an annual return of the number of badgers vaccinated during the season to Natural England.
In addition to the challenges raised by the cull, badgers have also had to contend with record-breaking, high temperatures this summer, which made for a slow start to vaccinations. However, cooler and wetter months have followed enabling the Trust’s dedicated team of over 100 volunteers to pick up the numbers.
The Trust was also able to train 16 new key volunteers in Module Two Trap Placement and Setting, and two experienced volunteers qualified as Lay Vaccinators and were able to vaccinate their first badgers in August.
Volunteer and recently qualified Lay Vaccinator Nicky Loveday added:
"I have been lucky enough to volunteer with the Badger Vaccination project for the past two years and am now a committed advocate for vaccination and a passionate campaigner against the Badger Cull.
“However, for all the many positives, there is always the blood-chilling knowledge in the back of my mind that the only reason we are vaccinating the badgers is to try and protect a small number of them, whilst we continue to argue that culling is not an effective solution to combating the spread of bovine TB.”