Purpose of Badger Groups

What do badger groups actually do?

The purpose of each individual Badger Group is defined in its own constitution. Accordingly, one group may have slightly different aims and activities from another group. However, virtually all badger groups are members of the Badger Trust, so they can generally expected to have many common aims and objectives.

"The world of badgers is in some ways analogous with the human world. Like us, their behaviour is greatly influenced by their need for homes and living space, and being social like we are, they too have their problems of learning how to live together ..... and with us"

Ernest Neal

History

Despite the fact that badger baiting was made illegal as long ago as the 19th century, the practice continued, making a serious impact on badger numbers in some areas.

By the 1970s, there was enough of a groundswell of public opinion to make the possibility of a proper badger protection act a real possibility. After much argument in Parliament, the Badgers Act 1973 was put on the statute books. This important new law made it illegal to take, injure or kill badgers, to ill-treat badgers, or to dig for badgers. Before the Act, concerned members of the pro-badger community could do relatively little to protect badgers. Now, with a proper act of Parliament, people began to feel that they could make more of a difference to the lives of badgers, and a flurry of new badger groups was founded.

The movement grew apace, and by 1986, there were so many badger groups that the Badger Trust was formed.

Usual Aims

The most common basic aim of most of the UK's many badger groups is to "enhance the welfare and conservation of badgers" in those areas for which they have responsibility. Typically this will be something along the lines of a County, or a major part of one.

Usual Activities

In order to enhance the welfare and conservation of badgers, most badger groups do a similar range of activities. Typically these will include:

Giving Advice if Badgers Cause Problems (sometimes known as a Householder Service)
Rescuing Trapped and Injured Badgers
Rehabilitation of Injured or Orphaned Badgers - feeding young cubs and releasing them back into the wild so they can survive through to adulthood
Recording Badger Setts - to help stop badgers being persecuted and to help protect green-spaces from being concreted over by unsympathetic developers
Recording Road Casualties - to make sure badgers and people can use and cross roads safely. Also advising road construction companies and local authorities about how to install wildlife tunnels, underpasses and bridges.
Dealing with Property and Land Developments - helping badgers live with the consequences of developments, or getting those developments modified or stopped
Education and Information - for example talks and lectures in schools, youth clubs, colleges, libraries and country pubs
Fund Raising - raffles, books, leaflets, T-shirts, sweat-shirts, table mats, etc, etc
Membership - individual, family, or corporate membership schemes
Political Campaigning - trying to persuade our politicians to allow badgers to live natural safe wild lives in the countryside

Some badger groups also do educational talks to schools and colleges. At these talks children will be able to see pictures of badgers and how they live, with possibly videos, and samples too. A few badger groups have stuffed specimens (taxidermy), which they can use to educate children how big a badger is and what its teeth, claws and paws actually look like.

Other badger groups may also maintain hides or rehabilitation setts, where members can watch or even photograph badgers.

Virtually all badger groups publish regular newsletters, and are registered charities. As well as being able to accept personal donations from individuals, most are well versed in such tax-efficient items such as payroll giving and charitable covenants.

Badgerland are confident in saying that every badger group in the UK offers fantastic value for money, so go and join your local Badger Group NOW.