Badgers v hedgehogs - opportunism or direct population limitation? (1 Viewer)

[Dry ice]

The recovery of hedgehog populations in areas where badgers are culled, both in Britain and Ireland, would indicate that the most significant factor in the hedgehog’s decline is the badger, all other factors being insufficient to prevent these recoveries.

Recently the hedgehog was voted ‘Britain’s national species’ in a BBC poll.

http://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/?action=viewArticle&articleId=5

In a recent BBC program ‘The Great British Wildlife Revival’, the presenter Ben Fogle (a patron of the British Hedgehog Preservation Trust), did an item on the decline of hedgehogs. He told us that they could be extinct in Britain by 2021. Needless to say this was all down to habitat loss; no mention was made of badgers. I wonder if Mr Fogle is a member of the Badger Trust?

The RSPB and the Wildlife trusts favour a vaccination program for bovine tb in badgers, without any form of control. This policy can only lead to further expansion of the badger population and hasten the hedgehog’s extinction in Britain.
Both of these ‘flagship’ wildlife organisations are currently running campaigns that prominently feature the hedgehog (see attachments), yet neither is forthcoming as to the principle role of the badger in the decline of ‘Britain’s national species’ . It would appear cynical that both seek to profit from this decline, while pursuing a policy that can only serve to ensure it.

 

[Himalaya]

The main factor which is contributing to the decline in the Hedgehog population is us, human beings. We have destroyed their habitat by removing hedgerows and the thick bushy margins. We destroy their food supply by spraying chemicals on agricultural land and our gardens. We build roads and we can see how many Hedgehogs have ended up as roadkill. We have contributed significantly to climate change with our greed.

Why is it that we have to blame other animals for the the decrease in wildlife that we decide to attach sentimental value to? This hate-filled "logic" is used against many predators simply because we decide we have a new enemy. It is about time we and our actions are the problem.

 

[Wildmoreway]

I don't hate any species. I like Badgers. I don't like what Alf or Dry Ice are saying about Badgers but they are presenting rational arguments to explain the situation as it now is .. The simple fact appears to be that now in many places there are too many Badgers.

I do come from a farming family and I remain unconvinced regarding the issue of Bovine TB and Badgers, however Alf and Dry Ice have raised some interesting issues.The one extra I will throw in is to ask what effect the feeding of Badgers by people is having, is this also helping to increase the Badger population to an unsustainable level and adding to the problem?

I do not object to a vaccination programme for Badgers, but also there needs to be a vaccination programme for all the humans and their assorted dogs and cats that are now roaming across our farmland (with and without their owners) and coming into contact with the cattle. There is also the politically inconvenient issue that the farming industry now employs large numbers of migrant workers who themselves might be carrying and spreading TB.

Regardless of other issues though the simple inconvenient truth is that Badger numbers may have to be reduced.

 

[angusmcoatup]

?

There is also the politically inconvenient issue that the farming industry now employs large numbers of migrant workers who themselves might be carrying and spreading TB.

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It's not the same TB. This isn't an issue.

 

[Mike in Cumbria]

...I do come from a farming family and I remain unconvinced regarding the issue of Bovine TB and Badgers, however Alf and Dry Ice have raised some interesting issues.The one extra I will throw in is to ask what effect the feeding of Badgers by people is having, is this also helping to increase the Badger population to an unsustainable level and adding to the problem?.....

More to the point is the way in which, all through the last century (and beyond), farmers have systematically drained farmland. Fields that were wet and waterlogged, rich in biodiversity, became dry, warm and crumbly, perfect for burrowing. This, combined with the reduction in persecution is what I believe has led to the spectacular increase in badger numbers - not dishes of pedigree chum.

And the comment about migrant workers and TB, as well a being scientifically wrong is unworthy. Nothing to do with political correctness, just unworthy.

Mike

 

[Robin Edwards]

The one extra I will throw in is to ask what effect the feeding of Badgers by people is having, is this also helping to increase the Badger population to an unsustainable level and adding to the problem?

Isn't this a case that any feeding of wildlife including the blue tits on the fat balls is likely to have an effect, some viewed as positive and some as negative. NGOs promote feeding of wildlife - food supplies is a big business and human well-being is enhanced from so doing.
I see that Badgers have been doing what Common Buzzards have done more recently and that is population recovery due to reduced persecution. I don't remember seeing badgers when I was very young but as they were granted protected status in the early seventies, I am hoping that their recovery has been because the previous levels of unacceptable digging and baiting have reduced.
I would also say that there will more people who have fed Hedghogs either deliberately or inadvertantly in their gardens, than feed Badgers some of this to the detriment of the Hedgehogs where slug pellets have been deployed.
Sorry if I've missed earlier in the thread but do we know that Hedgehog populations hadn't increased simply because Badger populations were being artificially kept down in the past - like many BoP I could mention.

 

[Mayo Corncrake]

I do not object to a vaccination programme for Badgers, but also there needs to be a vaccination programme for all the humans and their assorted dogs and cats that are now roaming across our farmland (with and without their owners) and coming into contact with the cattle. There is also the politically inconvenient issue that the farming industry now employs large numbers of migrant workers who themselves might be carrying and spreading TB.

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Dogs don't get bovine TB. Recent studies show that domestic cats can get TB. There's no vaccine that I know for TB in cats.

 

[Robin Edwards]

A useful link on the subject of vaccination

http://www.bacvi.co.uk/ZSL_TB_Conference_video.html

This is an old report but in Africa where bTB has been present for many years, suggests most mamallian species including dogs can act as vector transmitters.

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iuatld/ijtld/2004/00000008/00000008/art00002

In Africa, bovine TB primarily affects cattle; however, infection in other farm and domestic animals, such as sheep, goats, pigs, dogs and cats, is not uncommon. Wild ruminants and carnivores are also affected and are the natural reservoirs of the infectious agent in the wild. Man is also susceptible to the disease, the highest risk groups being individuals with concomitant HIV/AIDS infection. In Africa, human TB is widely known to be caused by M. tuberculosis; however, an unknown proportion of cases are due to M. bovis.