Badgers and bovine TB
Bovine TB is mainly a disease of cattle but can affect a range of species; there is a significant reservoir of infection in badgers. The disease is transmitted between cattle, between badgers, and between the two species.
The Government has committed, as part of a package of measures, to developing affordable options for a carefully-managed and science-led policy of badger control in areas with high and persistent levels of bovine TB.
- Badger control – culling of badgers - background and evidence
- Chief Scientist Ian Boyd and Chief Vet Nigel Gibbens explain the science behind the badger cull (Guardian)
- 27 February 2013: Natural England has issued authorisation letters to the two pilot areas in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset, confirming the final conditions have been met for culling to go ahead there later this year. At the same time, an area in Dorset will be prepared as a contingency in the event that unforeseen circumstances prevent one of the current areas going ahead.
Areas of England with a high incidence of bovine TB in cattle also tend to have high numbers of badgers, and the scientific evidence demonstrates conclusively that badgers contribute significantly to bovine TB in cattle. This evidence comes from the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT), in which there were positive and negative changes in the incidence of bovine TB in cattle as a result of badger culling. However, the relationship between bovine TB in badgers and in cattle is highly complex, and the rate of transmission between species is not in direct proportion to badger density.
Badger control policy
On 19 July 2011, the then Secretary of State announced that she was strongly minded to allow culling, carried out by groups of farmers and landowners, as part of a science-led and carefully managed policy of badger control.
However, before a decision was made on whether to grant licences to permit the controlled removal of badgers, we needed to be sure that we could address a number of important issues that were raised during the 2010 public consultation. We therefore consulted on draft Guidance to Natural England. This guidance set out in detail how Natural England would exercise its function to issue licences to allow the controlled culling and/or vaccination of badgers in areas of high incidence of bovine TB in cattle in a carefully regulated way for the purpose of controlling the spread of the disease, if a decision were made to permit culling.
Previous public consultation on the Government’s approach to tackling the disease and badger control policy ran from 15 September 2010 and concluded on 8 December 2010.
Badger control training course guidance
Guidance for those running training courses has been published. Course providers must show they have the relevant skills and experience to run and assess this specialist course.
Badger protection legislation
Badgers were first given protection under the Badgers Act 1973 and badger setts were protected under the Badgers Act 1991. The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 consolidated this earlier legislation.
Summary of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992
The 1992 Act makes it an offence to:
- kill, injure or take a badger
- cruelly ill-treat any badger
- interfere with a badger sett
Licensing Powers
Under the 1992 Act, licences may be granted by the Agricultural Departments (in England, this is Defra; in Wales, the National Assembly for Wales Agriculture Department; and in Scotland, the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department) for the following purposes;
a) to interfere with badger setts for the purpose of:
- any agricultural or forestry operation;
- any operation to maintain or improve any existing watercourse or drainage works, or to construct new works required for the drainage of land, including works of defence against seawater or tidal water;
- controlling foxes in order to protect livestock and penned game.
b) to kill or take badgers or to interfere with their setts for the purpose of;
- preventing serious damage to land, crops, poultry or any other form of property;
- preventing the spread of disease.
In England all licences regarding badgers are, in practice, granted by Natural England, either as the licensing Authority themselves or on behalf of the Secretary of State, depending on the purpose of the licence.