Comments

When I am called out to attend to an injured badger, I never know just what to expect. Every rescue situation is different - and this one was very different. On this occasion I was called out to a smallholding not far from where I live. The owner showed me to a small wooden building, which was full of straw, chickens, and cats. An injured badger cub had taken refuge there - and had curled up in the straw right next to a cat and her litter of tiny kittens.

The mother cat got up and left her babies when we arrived, and this photo shows the badger cub lying next to a small furry bundle of kittens. The mother returned soon afterwards, walking past the badger cub as if there was nothing unusual about it, and settled down again to nurse her young. She clearly did not see the badger as a threat. As for the badger, which had obviously become separated from its own mother, perhaps it saw this loving mum as the next best thing.

Sadly, this story does not have a happy ending. The cub had badly injured ears, which were crawling with maggots. The veterinary surgeon found that the infection was too deep to be treatable, and had to put the poor creature to sleep. Most badger rescues end this way, and I have to console myself with the thought that at least I did what I could, and helped the animal by bringing an end to its suffering.

Back to: Top / Photo

Picture credit

© Steve Jackson.

(Credits for the photos used in the right-hand margin of this page for site navigation can be found on the Credits page.)

Back to: Top / Photo