Dead baby badger....seems odd

[Gaina]

This afternoon mum and I were driving home when we passed a baby badger that looked to have been run over (very dead and no hope that it might be alive)

I was in the car so obviously didn't get a good look, but it did seem to be extremely young and small (like chihuahua size).

It strikes me as odd that such a small badger would have come down from the woods, alone and ended up being run over. I've seen big adults and young adults dead on this road but never anything that small.

I have heard accounts of badgers being found dead on roadsides but when the body was inspected it was obvious that a car was not the cause of death, pointing to possibility of the badger having been dumped. What does everyone else think?

[mh68]

A young Badger that small would be unlikely to venture outside the sett let alone wander down onto the road on it`s own. Definitely sounds as though something is amiss.Be interesting to hear what others think.

Mark H

[stripee]

badger diggers/baiters? I believe sunday mornings are the favoured day for it, along with bank holidays, sometimes vans are seen parked up with dog cages and blanked out windows.) As I said on another thread, there were badger diggers a mile away from here last week. So it's not that uncommon unfortunately Unless there could be another reason for it having wandered off

[Gaina]

Thanks Mark and Stripee.

I think foul play is a very real possibility here. Unfortunately there is nowhere to stop the car on that stretch or I would have been inclined to take a few photos and present them to my nearest Wildlife Crime unit.

[mh68]

Originally Posted by Gaina

Thanks Mark and Stripee.

I think foul play is a very real possibility here. Unfortunately there is nowhere to stop the car on that stretch or I would have been inclined to take a few photos and present them to my nearest Wildlife Crime unit.

It`s a shame you couldnt do that, or even pick up the body, but it`s not worth risking your own life for on a busy stretch of road. Might be worth having a word with the local Wildlife crime unit anyway to voice your concerns. At least that way they may be able to shed some light on your find, if there has been known Badger baiting / digging nearby, or they may keep a closer eye on the area where you found the body.

Mark H

[Gaina]

Thanks Mark, I have just found contact details for a Wildlife Officer in my area so I am emailing him now.

[mh68]

Nice one Gaina. Do let us know how you get on....

Mark H

[Dogghound]

Cubs only stay below ground for their first 8 weeks, and weaning usually occurs after 12 weeks, after this they often do wander abit in search of food. Likely to be one born around July, late summer, so thats another possibility.

Also (i know diggers are pretty sick people) cubs wouldnt be of much value to them compared to say a large boar.

[Gaina]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Cubs only stay below ground for their first 8 weeks, and weaning usually occurs after 12 weeks, after this they often do wander abit in search of food. Likely to be one born around July, late summer, so thats another possibility.

Also (i know diggers are pretty sick people) cubs wouldnt be of much value to them compared to say a large boar.

Thanks for the info Dogghound . I sincerely hope it's innocent, but I would rather be completely wrong than risk not alerting them to something illegal that may be occuring.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Gaina

Thanks for the info Dogghound . I sincerely hope it's innocent, but I would rather be completely wrong than risk not alerting them to something illegal that may be occuring.

Yes quite correct you do the rite thing, better to be safe than sorry.