Inquiry as badger sett disturbed
31 January 2008 - BBC News
Police have warned there are serious penalties for disturbing a badger sett
after an incident in Nottinghamshire. They were called to a field near Southwell
and found two dogs with serious injuries from fighting badgers. The terriers
were fitted with tracking devices which allow them to be followed when
underground. Two men dressed in camouflage fled the scene.
Police said anyone disturbing a badger or sett could face a £5,000 fine and a
six-month prison sentence. Cruelty to dogs carries a penalty of a year in prison
and/or a fine of up to £20,000.
The RSPCA took the dogs into its care. RSPCA Inspector for Newark, Ian
Callingham, said: "This incident was horrendous. It will have caused great
distress to the badger and to the dogs, which sustained serious wounds from the
badger attempting to fight back. What makes it worse is that we will never know
if the badger received injuries and between February and May cubs are born,
which could also be injured or killed. It is despicable and I am appealing for
anybody who knows who is badger baiting to report them to the police
immediately."
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