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Hunt is on after illegal killing of badger
A mutilated badger, discovered in North Yorkshire, highlights a growing threat to the animals in the name of sport. Lucy Oates reports.
North Yorkshire Police, the RSPCA and Natural England have joined forces to investigate the killing of a badger, discovered with horrific injuries, at Norton, near Malton. The animal, which was so badly hurt that it had to be destroyed by a vet, is believed to be the latest victim of illegal lamping with dogs.
The grim discovery was made early last Sunday morning on a quiet country road just outside the village.
Jean Thorpe, who runs Ryedale Rehabilitation and is an expert in caring for injured wildlife, attended
the scene and got the
animal to Battleflatts Veterinary Practice, in Stamford Bridge, as quickly as possible.
"I was called by a passing motorist and the RSPCA, and found the adult sow bleeding heavily and in a shocked condition," says Jean. "She was obviously seriously injured and needed putting to sleep as quickly as possible."
An examination showed that the badger had been in good health. "She was a good weight and her coat was in pristine condition," adds Jean. "She had a grave injury to her face caused by a blow from a spade or similar instrument. She had various dog bites to her muzzle, neck, chin and front leg. There were tyre marks in the field close by where a 4x4 had circled the winter wheat field and come out on to the road.
"I believe that this badger had been lamped, using strong dogs, the previous evening or earlier that morning, and left for dead. It's the second case of illegal badger lamping at that location this year that I'm aware of and I'm really angry about it. It's time that people started taking lamping more seriously."
Geoff Edmund, chief inspector for the RSPCA in the York region, revealed that a number of different agencies are working together to track down the culprits.
"The police tend to get more lamping reports than the RSPCA because it takes place at night," he said. "There is also clearly an animal cruelty issue, and we work with the police to investigate.
"We believe that a joint approach is the only way to tackle the problem and we want farmers on board, although we accept that they often feel threatened by the kind of people who do this.
"Before its horrific death, this badger was clearly chased and terrified. There is absolutely no excuse for this type of cruelty and in any case it is against the law to kill a badger. Those who do so risk a 5,000 fine or up to six months' imprisonment."
The need for joint working was echoed by Mark Rasbeary, a wildlife officer for North Yorkshire Police who is on a 12-month secondment with Natural England. Mark's dual role is about encouraging partnership working.
"We are trying to build closer networks with other agencies and neighbouring police forces because we know that offenders often come from outside the area and that our colleagues in neighbouring forces will be experiencing these problems too," he said. "If we share information and work together, we have more chance of getting a conviction."
The lamping of some species is permitted for pest-control purposes – such as when a farmer "lamps" a fox on his own land, using a gun.
"There is no financial gain in killing badgers, although sometimes they are taken and put in pits for baiting, where they are set upon by dogs," added Mark Rasbeary.
"The badger is an extremely strong animal and these practices are also cruel to the dogs involved. For example, a terrier was recently found with severe injuries in the Richmond area after being sent down a badger sett.
"The people who do this don't care about the badgers or their dogs.
"These offences are more common than people think, because they take place at night in isolated rural areas. Often those involved will take a carcass to the roadside or even run over it to make it look like a road accident has taken place. We always check for evidence of dog bites on any badgers found.
"The badger population has increased in recent years and, unfortunately, that means that this type of crime is becoming more common. Those involved know where setts are because they tend to go out catching rabbits in the daytime so they spot the signs and tracks."
Pc Jez Walmsley, wildlife crime officer for the Ryedale area, explained that September to February tends to be the main season for lamping because the crops are newly-sown and there is not much cover for wildlife.
"Sadly, this is increasingly common in Ryedale," he said. "The abundance of fauna that we have here unfortunately attracts these people to the area. Over the last year there have been dozens of cases of deer carcasses being found and probably up to 10 involving badgers.
"It is out-and-out animal cruelty and exploitation, but it also causes a lot of damage to farmers' crops, too. Landowners get very distressed about it and we want to see those responsible brought to justice.
"We take it extremely seriously and would be delighted to receive any evidence that the public
can give us."
Anyone with information or who saw any unusual activity on farmland in the Norton area late last Saturday night or early on Sunday morning is asked to call 0845 60 60 247.
Lamping: The facts
Lamping is hunting at night using powerful lamps and either guns or dogs, and often involves 4x4 vehicles being driven, without permission, across private land.
Its legal status is complicated by a swathe of different laws relating to firearms and to specific animals, although most forms of hunting with dogs were made illegal by the Hunting Act 2004.
The killing of badgers, without a licence, is also illegal.
Lamping usually involves lurcher-type dogs, although there is evidence that dogs are being cross-bred for the purpose, combining the speed of lurchers with the strong jaws of terriers.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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