Your questions answered about Channel 4’s ‘Night Coppers’ handling of an injured badger
- Badger Trust Staff Team
- Jul 27, 2022
- 4 min read
Badger Trust shares answers to the most-asked questions and a statement from Sussex Police after an influx of queries from concerned viewers.
Following the 19 July 2022 episode of ‘Night Coppers’ featuring footage of the police interacting with an injured badger, we’ve had many responses and queries here at Badger Trust.
Here are just a few of the badger-related questions we have answered in the last few days
Q. Are badgers protected legally?
Yes, they are! This year is the 30th anniversary of the Protection of Badgers Act (1992). Badgers are a protected species, along with their homes (setts). People injuring badgers or damaging their setts can get jail sentences of up to six months.
Q. Do you have more advice on handling injured badgers?
Badgers are wild animals who do not typically engage with humans. So, if the badger does not leave when they notice your presence, then they may be injured. Do not attempt to approach the animal, but seek expert help as soon as possible if you are concerned. Trained wildlife rehabilitators, RSPCA inspectorate, and experienced members of badger groups have the skill and experience to approach, handle and make badgers safe in secure carrying cages, so please wait until they arrive at the site. Whilst the RSPCA hotline is open between 8 am and 8 pm, local emergency vets and wildlife rescues can be contacted and will often accept wildlife casualties free of charge outside of usual business hours. In all cases, it would be best to remain near the site until help arrives.
Q. If badgers are out in daylight, does that mean they are unwell?
No, it does not mean they are necessarily unwell or injured. During drought badgers may be seen more often in the daylight as their quest for food takes them out at times they may normally be sleeping. Badgers also use day nests, especially during warm weather, usually close to setts. Day nests are where badgers lay up on bedding under a hedge, tree or similar, and this can sometimes be in a garden or under a shed, your compost heap or down an alley. The best thing is to leave the badger alone as it will go when it is ready, that night in most cases. The badger’s behaviour will give a good indication if they are in need of assistance. If they are moving well, and not in immediate danger (e.g. they are not endangered by a busy road), then please leave them be. If you believe the badger is expressing signs of injury or ill health (motionless, not leaving the scene, accepting of human presence) and there is not a badger group in operation in your area, then your local wildlife rescue must be contacted in urgency
Q. Given how the police acted in the ‘Night Coppers’ clips, does Badger Trust have any advice for police forces?
Badger Trust continues to work with all police forces to get the best outcome for badgers we can. We have trained 42 out of 43 police forces around badger crime and find that they are very receptive. What would help is if sentences for offences against badgers were raised in line with domestic animals from six months to five years. This change would lead to more resources to bring people who commit crimes against badgers to justice. Sussex Police has asked us to include a statement they issued about the programme. They stressed to Badger Trust that they also care about badgers and want to put their actions in context, as not all the actions the officers took were in the final film shown on Channel 4:
Sussex Police Statement
“In a recent episode of Night Coppers, aired on Channel 4 on Tuesday (July 19), officers were seen responding to a report of an injured badger in the road during the early hours of the morning in Brighton.
On arrival, officers were told the informants had already made attempts to contact a wildlife rescue charity.
Officers in attendance also called a number of rescue charities and local vets to enlist specialist support but were unable to make contact.
In order to ensure there was no further risk to the badger and any road users, the officers then moved the animal from the road, at which point it returned to the undergrowth of its own volition.
Sussex Police takes the welfare of animals extremely seriously and will always take every step to protect them where possible.”
Q. How can we reduce badger deaths on the roads?
Firstly, slow down on rural roads. Badger Trust’s ‘Give Badgers a Brake’ campaign has the support of Chris Packham and The AA and is working on getting warning road signs and other traffic calming measures in areas of high badger deaths. You can help the campaign by supporting Badger Trust and reporting to us when you see a road death.
Q. How can I report a badger casualty?
Where a badger has sadly been killed as a result of a road traffic collision in England and Wales, please always report to Badger Trust online via the RTC report form.
How to report
If you're driving, make a mental note of town/village/landmarks/road signs and locate via a map later. Marking the location via what3words app or a grid reference really helps.
Complete Badger Trust’s online report form with as much information as possible.
Q. How do I find my local badger group?
Use our Badger Groups Map to find details of your local badger group or google your county/town and 'badger group'.
Q. Can I report a badger casualty anywhere in the UK to Badger Trust?
Badger Trust RTC reports cover England and Wales. Please report badger RTCs in Scotland and Northern Ireland to our fellow badger protectors:
Q. Who removes dead badgers from the side of the road?
Removing dead badgers from roadways or other locations is the responsibility of your local authority. Please contact your local council to ask them to remove any dead animals.
