BB comes to Wildwood

Photo: Chris Noble

Wildwood's very own Big Brother is playing out in the badger enclosure. Just over two weeks ago Wildwood introduced a new badger in to the enclosure containing our two hand reared animals Big and Medium Boar

Rhoda a wild badger is living in her own purpose built cage within the existing enclosure so that the three can become acquainted.

Rhoda was caught by East Kent Badger Group members in the Lyminge area after a farmer discovered her inside his chicken run. She had killed several chickens but instead of shooting her the farmer contacted the Badger group.

When the team arrived at the farm they found Rhoda asleep on top of some hay and realised that there was something wrong with her.

After capturing her she was examined and found to be lactating but after a thorough search of the area no cubs could be found. Rhoda was transported to a secret location and the vet prescribed antibiotics and vitamins as well as a building diet and transferred to Wildwood on the 28th May. Wildwood is very pleased to give Rhoda a home (unfortunately once a badger becomes a chicken killer they repeat the behaviour) in the hope that she will become part of our badger family.

"We are so pleased that the farmer called us" commented Martin Newcombe founder member of the East Kent Badger Group "Even though he had the right to shoot her because of the damnage she had caused he asked us for help and we were more than pleased to assist"

It is hoped that the two boys will get to know Rhoda and that they will all be able to live happily together and that there will be no evictions from the Badger Big Brother enclosure.

Wildwood is setting up a camera to keep an eye on the goings on and to see how well they are getting on before Rhoda is allowed to get out of her enclosure.

"This is always a bit fraught" commented Ally Higginson Wildwood Keeper, "we are hoping that they will all get on well together and that this time to get acquainted will really pay off"

Badgers are just some of the huge range of British animals that can be seen at the Wildwood Discovery Park near Canterbury. For more information visit our website at www.wildwoodtrust.org or telephone 0871 7820081.

Wildwood's 'Wildlife Conservation Park' is an ideal day out for all the family where you can come 'nose to nose' with British Wildlife. Wildwood offers its members and visitors a truly inspirational way to learn about the natural history of Britain by actually seeing the wildlife that once lived here, like the wolf, beaver, red squirrel, wild boar and many more.

Wildwood is situated close to Canterbury, just off the A291 between Herne Bay and Canterbury.

Photo: Keith Marshall

The Badger Meles meles

Recognition:
Black and white striped face. Body grey, black fur on legs.
Head/body length: about 750mm, tail 150mm
Weight: average 8-9kg in spring, 11-12kg in autumn.

General Ecology:
Badgers are nocturnal and rarely seen during the day. When not active, badgers usually lie up in an extensive system of underground tunnels and nesting chambers, known as a sett and are used by successive generations of badgers. This involves the excavation of tons of earth.

Badgers live in social groups of four to 12 adults. Only one female badger in a social group normally breeds, although occasionally two or more may do so. Litters of two or three cubs are usually born in February.

Badgers are widespread in Britain but are most common in the south west, rare in East Anglia and only thinly distributed in Scotland.

Badgers are omnivorous feed on earthworms(up to 200 per night), frogs, rodents, birds, eggs, lizards, insects, bulbs, seeds and berries.

Badgers are less active during winter months but they do not hibernate.

Badger prints are broader than they are long with five toes and five long, non-retractable powerful claws that they use for digging.

In 1988 there were estimated to be around 42,000 social groups of badgers, and just under 200,000 adult badgers. By 1997 this had risen to just over 50,000 social groups and 310,000 adult badgers. The population is now probably stable. Mortality is high, with around one-fifth of adults dying each year. Road traffic accidents are a major cause of death. The maximum life expectancy of a badger is about 14 years, though very few survive so long.

Photo: Neil Phillips

Conservation:
Badgers are protected by a number of laws. Badgers may not be deliberately killed, persecuted or trapped. Where badgers pose a problem, licences can be issued to permit certain activities. Badger baiting (using dogs to fight badgers) has been outlawed since 1835. The Badgers Act 1973 afforded limited protection against badger digging, but this practice was not finally outlawed until 1981.

The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 consolidates past badger legislation and, in addition to protecting the badger itself, makes it an offence to damage, destroy or obstruct badger setts.

About 80 local groups have been formed by enthusiasts wishing to protect and study badgers. There are many positive ways to help badger conservation. These include protecting badgers from diggers and baiters by re-inforcing setts, helping with care and rehabilitation of injured badgers, having tunnels and badger proof fencing added to new road schemes and giving advice about setts in the way of developers.