Today is National Badger Day and a time when groups around the country are celebrating one of the most iconic and much loved wildlife species in our countryside.
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Oxfordshire Badger Group has been protecting the welfare and conservation of Oxfordshire’s badgers for 30 years, advising the public, landowners, and councils. We are often called to rescue injured badgers and work closely with local wildlife rescue groups, as well as offering training days for members of the public who are keen to get involved in badger conservation.
This is the third successful year of OBG’s badger vaccination programme made possible by the support and donations of the public and dedication of a team of volunteers. We work with farmers, landowners and other wildlife groups to deliver free vaccination for badgers and the scheme is growing each year. We believe that vaccination and not badger culling is the way forward to control bTB in cattle and are disappointed that, despite assurances by the Government that the costly, cruel and unscientific badger cull is going to be phased out, over 75,000 badgers could be killed this year, including over 1,000 in this county.
Badgers have been part of our countryside for hundreds of years and are protected by law. Unfortunately, we have seen an increase in persecution and ask members of the public to report crime or any suspicious activity. We would also welcome volunteers to be badger guardians and keep an eye on their local sett.
In an increasingly nature depleted countryside please join with us to celebrate and protect Oxfordshire’s beautiful badgers.
- Julia Hammett, OBG Chair