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Somerset and Devon Badger Groups @somanddevbadgers.bsky.social · 1d

Celebrate Brocktober in style by knitting a charming spooky badger! 🎃 This delightful chocolate orange cover showcases an enchanting little witch badger flying on her broomstick. Grab the pattern for just £2 from our web store and receive it as a PDF! 🧙‍♀️

#Brocktober

The Badger Cull Debate is Finally Here, Now We Need Your Help

Somerset and Devon Badger Groups @somanddevbadgers.bsky.social · 19d

The badger cull debate is here! 🦡

After months of campaigning, Parliament will discuss the petition to end it on Monday, October 13th.

Make a difference:
bit.ly/4mDBJNn
#EndTheCull #WildlifeProtection #PetitionForChange

After many months of relentless campaigning and pressure, we finally have a date.

New hay, peanuts and an egg

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Somerset and Devon Badger Groups @somanddevbadgers.bsky.social · Aug 29

One lucky badger — a full belly (peanuts and an egg) and a fresh hay bed to snooze on.
Wildlife luxury at its finest.

youtu.be/Czb-3G2WTTs

#BadgerLife #BadgerBedding #WildlifeAtNight

Somerset and Devon Badger Groups @somanddevbadgers.bsky.social · Aug 29

🦡 Badgers are underground neat freaks!
They build multi-room setts with cosy bedding made of grass, moss & leaves—regularly cleaned & even sun-dried.
They prep for bad weather, avoid parasites & live tidier lives than most of us.

youtu.be/HaAHxXqX10M #BadgerBehaviour

Time for new bedding

Somerset and Devon Badger Groups @somanddevbadgers.bsky.social · Aug 24

What does it take to be a badger vaccinator? 🦡💉
Early mornings, late nights, muddy fields—and official APHA training.
3 modules, 4+ days, strict monitoring, and a year of fieldwork before training’s even funded.
It’s tough—but worth it.
#BadgerVaccination

Somerset and Devon Badger Groups @somanddevbadgers.bsky.social · Aug 24

On the last day of badger vaccinations in Dorset, our amazing volunteers successfully vaccinated four more badgers, bringing the grand total to ten over two days!

A huge thanks to everyone who contributed along the way.

You've truly made a difference! 🦡
#BadgerVaccination #ThankYouVolunteers

Somerset and Devon Badger Groups @somanddevbadgers.bsky.social · Aug 21

Somerset Badger Group has recently vaccinated badgers in Dorset against bovine tuberculosis. Two volunteers vaccinated three cubs and three adults, all healthy! We aim to vaccinate more soon! 🦡

#BadgerVaccination

Over Half of UK Badger Population Killed: 247,880 Culled Since 2013

Somerset and Devon Badger Groups @somanddevbadgers.bsky.social · Aug 10

We had a fantastic time at Steart Marshes Dragonfly Weekend yesterday!

While attendance was low, we enjoyed lively chats with fellow badger enthusiasts—one even expressed interest in joining our group!

It turned out to be an amazing day for four of our committee members.

Somerset and Devon Badger Groups @somanddevbadgers.bsky.social · Aug 4

Discover our new mini badger collection at devonbadgergroup.fws.store

From gardening to musical themes and more each badger is £5, plus £3.90 postage. Order 2 and pay the same postage. We'll handle refunds if needed!

#QuirkyGifts #HandmadeWithLove

Mini knitted badger playing a pink edged keytar.

Somerset and Devon Badger Groups @somanddevbadgers.bsky.social · Aug 2

With the 'intensive' badger cull approaching in 2025, Badger Trust reports half of Britain's badgers have been lost. However, our helpline indicates a gradual increase in local populations. 🦡 bit.ly/4frH6O0
#CanTheCull #StopTheCull

Official figures from Natural England released today reveal another 17,150 badgers were killed in 2024 culls.

Mother badger sits on baby's head!

Somerset and Devon Badger Groups @somanddevbadgers.bsky.social · Jul 19

Eurasian badgers mark territory and social bonds with scent. In a humorous twist, this mother accidentally marks her cub by sitting on its head! While cubs typically get scents from licking, sometimes nature just sits on you!

bit.ly/46d3rw9

Eurasian badgers, like many mammals, use scent marking to establish territory and social bonds — it’s their version of sending a strongly worded letter. But in a rather unexpected twist, this mother badger is not marking a tree or a trail... she's accidentally scent-marking her own cub by plonking herself right down on its head! Whether it’s a slip of maternal focus or just a badger version of tough love, this behaviour gives a whole new meaning to "sitting on your problems." In reality, cubs are often licked and nudged to pick up the group’s scent, but sometimes, it seems, nature just sits on you to make a point.

REVEALED: Farm inspection findings undermine case for badger cull - Protect the Wild

Somerset and Devon Badger Groups @somanddevbadgers.bsky.social · Jul 17

The cull policy assumes badgers spread disease, a view challenged by Protect the Wild. Biosecurity on farms is lacking. Natural England's inspections show minimal measures to prevent cow-badger contact, undermining the case for badger culling. bit.ly/40ZRg2b
#bTB

Freedom of information requests reveal the state of biosecurity on farms participating in the cull, which casts doubt on case for continued badger killing

SUCCESS! Legal challenge against badger cull licensing gets go ahead

Somerset and Devon Badger Groups @somanddevbadgers.bsky.social · Jul 2

Dry spells can cause dehydration in wildlife.

➡️ Place shallow dishes of fresh water in shady spots
➡️ Clean and refill daily

🚑 **Bonus tip:** DIY Rehydration Fluid:
1L clean water + 1 tbsp sugar + 1 tsp salt (Stir until dissolved.)

#Badgers #UKWildlife #DrySpellCare

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Somerset and Devon Badger Groups @somanddevbadgers.bsky.social · May 20

Legal challenge against badger cull licensing gets go ahead

protectthewild.substack.com/p/success-le...

Natural England is being hauled into court over its outrageous decision to authorise culls last year

protectthewild.substack.com

Legal challenge against badger culling licences given green light to proceed - Wild Justice

Reposted by Somerset and Devon Badger Groups

Badger Trust @badgertrust.bsky.social · May 15

Find sustainable ways to make #spaceforbadgers and coexist with badgers at a time of environmental crisis. www.badgertrust.org.uk/space-for-ba...

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Somerset and Devon Badger Groups @somanddevbadgers.bsky.social · May 16

A bit of potentially good news for badgers from @wildjustice.bsky.social and @badgertrust.bsky.social !

#Badgers #badgercull

wildjustice.org.uk/general/lega...

A legal challenge by wildlife groups The Badger Trust and Wild Justice against the granting of badger culling licences has […]

wildjustice.org.uk

Somerset and Devon Badger Groups @somanddevbadgers.bsky.social · May 14

Spring has sprung, and this charming knitted mini badger is hard at work mowing his lawn! 🌼

Only one available for just £8.90 (£5 for the badger + £3.90 P&P).

Don’t wait to adopt him—act fast! Check out his details here:
devonbadgergroup.fws.store/product/mini...

Mini badger mowing the lawn

Why not treat yourself to a charming knitted mini badger, lovingly designed and crafted by Sheena? This little guy is busy mowing his lawn! It's just 5 for the badger plus 3.90 for shipping. Buy two, ...

devonbadgergroup.fws.store

Somerset and Devon Badger Groups @somanddevbadgers.bsky.social · May 14

This badger is on a mission to conquer the squirrel feeder!

Nothing will stand in its way as it boldly navigates every obstacle for that delicious prize! 🐾

youtu.be/1284RKzQvnA

Petition: End the Badger cull and adopt other approaches to bovine TB control

Somerset and Devon Badger Groups @somanddevbadgers.bsky.social · Apr 25

Time's running out! 🚨

The .gov petition to end the badger cull has one month left.

Sign now and help reach 100,000 signatures!

👉 Sign here: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...

The Government’s TB Eradication Strategy allows the continued killing of badgers, a protected species, until the end of this Parliament, despite the Labour manifesto calling the cull “ineffective.” W...

petition.parliament.uk

Somerset and Devon Badger Groups @somanddevbadgers.bsky.social · Apr 20

This footage shows a badger using an above-ground nest, an uncommon behavior in the UK. These nests, made from grass and leaves, are typically found hidden in dense underbrush. Watch as this badger yawns and settles down for a snooze! youtu.be/7bcBSqhkOJ8 #BadgerNests

Sleeping badger

Somerset and Devon Badger Groups @somanddevbadgers.bsky.social · Apr 11

On 5 April, we trained 6 new badger rescuers—5 from Devon and 1 from Somerset. With experienced helpers, they practiced using rescue equipment on life-sized badger models. Our helpline now has more scope to respond to emergencies phoned though to the 24/7 helpline.

Somerset and Devon Badger Groups @somanddevbadgers.bsky.social · Apr 11

Did you know you can now send reports such as RTC badgers, developments, request advice for garden issues on so on via WhatsApp on 07340 623 329.

For emergencies we would still recommend you to call the 07850 604 585 24/7 helpline number.

Somerset and Devon Badger Groups @somanddevbadgers.bsky.social · Apr 11

On 10 April, we had a record turnout for a badger cub rehabilitation presentation.

The speaker discussed the rehab process, including returning cubs to their natal setts and creating artificial ones. A Q&A session followed, and we enjoyed funny footage of the cubs' journey!