Can you shoot badgers

But there are exceptions. Licences to undertake some actions can be issued if it is justified, for example where a badger sett is found on a proposed site for a road or housing development. Bulldozing a sett in the way of a new road would risk killing or injuring the badgers, so Natural England or Natural Resources Wales may grant a licence allowing the badgers to be carefully excluded, making them move elsewhere in their territory.

For information about the badger cull visit our Bovine tuberculosis page. If you use assistive technology such as a screen reader and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email enquiries naturalengland. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use. This guidance: provides direction to licensed operators to carry out controlled shooting of free-ranging badgers in the field gives recommendations on best practice highlights areas of the technique that licensed operators must comply with, including licence conditions This guidance does not confer any authority to undertake the actions described.

These actions may only be undertaken where: Natural England has issued a specific licence under the Protection of Badgers Act authorising the killing of badgers in accordance with class licence WML-CL05 Those acting under licence must: comply with all conditions take all reasonable steps to carry out licensed operations safely and humanely. Related content Wildlife of a badger control policy in England: evaluation of the potential consequences Bovine TB: summary of badger control monitoring during Advice to Natural England on setting minimum and maximum numbers of badgers to be controlled in Bovine TB: summary of badger control monitoring during Recovered appeal: land north east of Junction 37 of the A1 M Motorway, Marr Roundabout, Doncaster ref: - 8 July Collection Bovine TB: controlling the risk of bovine TB from badgers.

Brexit Check what you need to do. Explore the topic Bovine TB. Nonresidents hunting only unprotected species of wildlife need only a nongame license. Day hunting season — badger may be taken with firearms, pre-charged pneumatic air guns, archery equipment including crossbows and pursued with dogs statewide and year-round.

Hunting hours are from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset each day. The season will officially close March 31 and reopen April 1. Trapping season — Badger may be taken with traps statewide and year-round. The season will officially close March 31 and reopen April 1 of each year. In , the Protection of Badgers Act gave badgers across the UK unrivalled protection due to the sheer volume of cruelty and interference with both badgers and badgers setts.

The National Federation of Badger Groups precursor to the Badger Trust , were instrumental in bringing this legislation into fruition. Despite their unrivalled protection, thousands of badgers every year across the UK meet horrific fates due to both the barbaric acts of cruelty and illegal use of machinery in otherwise legal activities such as development and farming.

The most prevalent wildlife crimes involving badgers include: sett interference, development related, farming related, land clearance, shooting, badger baiting, poisoning, trapping, and gassing. Our short film, Stopping Badger Crime , aims to raise public awareness of crimes against badgers and encourage reporting. Presented by naturalist and broadcaster Mike Dilger, the hard-hitting film reveals the different methods used to persecute badgers, how to recognise the signs, and shows how recording and reporting badger crime helps investigators bring offenders to justice.

Badgers and their setts are legally protected from intentional cruelty and from the results of lawful human activities. The legislation, The Protection of Badgers Act , has provided badgers with unrivalled protection under the law. Despite this, thousands continue to be injured and killed illegally each year. The Protection of Badgers Act outlines the protection badgers receive under the law and the exceptions.

Details of the Act can be found here. Badgers are also protected under Schedule 6 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act which can be found here. Fears that thousands of badger crimes go unrecognised or unreported as badger charity calls for public support. Serious attack on badger volunteer by suspected badger diggers and public dumping of shot badgers highlight level of persecution.

Warwickshire Police appeal for information after a badger carcass was found near Rugby, hanging from a tree, with evidence of dogs having attacked the body before further mutilation of the remains. The Badger Trust is providing training to police forces across England and Wales. Since we have trained 30 forces. Craig Fellowes is a retired police wildlife crime officer, having served 31 years and worked with wildlife crime incidents since Craig has dealt with a wide variety of wildlife incidents relating to badgers, birds, bats, poachers, dog fighting, hunting with dogs, and the illegal trade in endangered species.

In addition to alerting authorities, the most important thing you can do is report all suspicious crime incidents to the Badger Trust. The Badger Trust has a dedicated team that monitors, responds, and tracks badger related wildlife crime across England and Wales. Current sentencing is not a real deterrent, a potential sentence of up to 6 months is not working, and on good behaviour offenders serve only a few months. Sentences for offences involving cruelty and suffering need to be increased.

Badger crime is prolific in all areas of the country with crimes from badger baiting to sett blocking remaining prevalent long after the Protection of Badgers Act was established.

We receive hundreds of reports every year of wildlife crimes that involve badgers. It is estimated that over 30, badgers every year fall victim to wildlife crime, despite having one of the highest levels of protection under the law. Wildlife crime has remained a prominent issue facing badgers and causes a large number of badger deaths each year. Very few end up being brought to justice, with outdoor crime scenes especially difficult.