Blue Bum Badger by Andi & Julia Sowden

 

On Monday 14th April, we had news from the Hotline, that there was a badger hiding in a barn near  Steeple Bumpstead. So, after a chat with the landowner, off we trotted with cage and grasper, to see if we could rescue him/her (for ease I'll call the badger 'him'). On arrival we were greeted by the owner, and led through his small holding, where there were peacocks, turkeys, horses; and the most adorable  miniature piggies, that followed us around like excited dogs. Once the pigs were safely in a different barn, we entered the barn with the badger. As our eyes adjusted to the dark (a few small lights had been rigged up), we could see the small badger in the corner behind some planks of wood. Apparently he hadn't moved from there for 2 days, so thinking it'd be easy to coax him into the cage, we   positioned it next to him, and tried to nudge him with the grasper. Well, this awoke his inner spirit, and off he went, charging around the barn! Once he'd calmed down, and stopped next to some pallets, we put the grasper in front of him, and he walked straight  into it - phew! Then the fight started. He wriggled and threw himself around, screaming - I was determined to not let him go! Eventually we managed to get him safely into the cage, and in the back of the car. After phoning Linkswood Vets, we headed off over there, where they sedated him and said they would call us when there was further news. So, off home we went. We got in and some 20 minutes later the phone rang - he was ready for collection. Off we went, back to the vets, where he had been thoroughly examined, cleaned up, and given anti biotics and pain relief....and the blue bum, where he had been sprayed with antiseptic. The antiseptic used was a Terramycin spray which is often used on farm animals. Off we went to take him to the rehab pen, armed with a week's worth of medication, where he walked straight into the sleeping area as soon as the cage was opened. Back home, and after cleaning the     equipment and putting it away we finally sat down for a sandwich, 7 hours after it all started.
Blue Bum has recovered well, and has been eating, healing and regaining strength.  Happily taking his medication off Custard Cream biscuits. So, on to Tuesday 22nd April, and it's time for him to go home. We had arranged with the landowner to take him for release at 8pm, as it'll be starting to get dark then, so he'll be active. We explored the land, and were shown various places, and told of a sett in an adjacent field; and the not very badger friendly farmer! One particular hedgerow looked like it would be attractive to badgers, so we decided to release close to there, behind the barn where he had been found.  As we carried the cage from the car, Blue Bum got more and more active and excited, so we were pretty sure we had the right place. Armed with cameras to film the release, we opened the cage, and he flew out and charged across the field to the hedgerow we had spotted earlier. If he belonged to the adjacent field, it would be a short straight run for him to get there.
All in all a great result; and a huge thank you to the landowner for calling it in, and helping us so much. He told us he will keep an eye on everything for  us. There are still some great animal and wildlife friendly people helping us do what we do.