http://www.badgers.org.uk The Badgers on the Web RSS news feed brings you news and information about badgers and badger protection issues, plus updates on websites about badgers. en-gb Wed, 12 Jul 2006 11:35:00 GMT (c) Steve Jackson, 2006; some items (c) Badger Trust. Material may be reproduced provided that the source is acknowledged. 20 http://www.badgers.org.uk/images/title-img-left.gif http://www.badgers.org.uk The Badger Trust has warned that fundamental weaknesses in the Government's bovine TB testing regime means that 3,000 bovine TB-infected cattle could be reaching food for human consumption every year in Britain. In a new report, the Trust reveals that at least 11 per cent of TB-infected cattle are missed by the skin test for bovine TB. http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=346.0 http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=346.0 Badger Message Board Mon, 24 Jul 2006 06:15:00 GMT 24 Jul 2006 Countryfile on Sunday July 23rd included a report on "the dilemma facing government ministers of whether to cull badgers in an effort to tackle bovine TB". Steve Jackson reviews the report and the issues raised in it, on the Badger Message Board. http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=344.0 http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=344.0 Badger Message Board Sun, 23 Jul 2006 12:37:00 GMT 23 Jul 2006 The August edition of BBC Wildlife, which is in the shops now, includes a three-page article about badger baiting. The article is by Terry Spamer, who has for many years worked undercover infiltrating badger baiting gangs and bringing them to justice. http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=341.0 http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=341.0 Badger Message Board Mon, 17 Jul 2006 19:46:00 GMT 17 Jul 2006 DEFRA has today issued a report summarising the 47,000 responses to their consultation on badger culling. It shows that 95% of all respondents were against a cull, which sends a truly overwhelming message to the Government. http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=336.0 http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=336.0 Badger Message Board Wed, 12 Jul 2006 11:35:00 GMT 12 Jul 2006 Defra's chief scientific adviser, Professor Howard Dalton, has been challenged to "stand up for science" by the Badger Trust. Badger Trust chairman David Williams has warned Professor Dalton: "It is our view that public confidence in Defra's ability to use sound science responsibly is in serious danger of being compromised by the Department's current approach to bovine tuberculosis and to badgers in particular." http://www.badger.org.uk/news/060707.html http://www.badger.org.uk/news/060707.html http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=331.0 Badger Trust Fri, 7 Jul 2006 12:00:00 GMT 7 Jul 2006 The Badger Trust has welcomed David Miliband's promise to put science first in addressing the bovine tuberculosis problem in the national herd. In a speech at the Royal Agricultural Show, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "First, any decision on culling must be based on a sound scientific and practical base." http://www.badger.org.uk/news/060704.html http://www.badger.org.uk/news/060704.html http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=329.0 Badger Trust Mon, 3 Jul 2006 12:00:00 GMT 3 Jul 2006 The Farmers Union of Wales has called on the Welsh Assembly to resume its 'badger found dead survey', which ran from February to the end of May this year. The FUW's demand follows news that some of the dead badgers found in areas where cattle are free from TB, have tested positive for the disease. http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=327.0 http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=327.0 Badger Message Board Sat, 1 Jul 2006 10:33:00 GMT 1 Jul 2006 Find out what Britain's badgers are up to this month, in the words of Brock the badger. http://www.badgers.org.uk/brocks-world/01calendar.html http://www.badgers.org.uk/brocks-world/01calendar.html Brock's World Sat, 1 Jul 2006 09:00:00 GMT 1 Jul 2006 Brock's World An attempt to poison badgers, possibly motivated by concerns about TB, led to the death of a dog according to a Government report published this week. "Pesticide poisoning of animals in 2005" was published by DEFRA's Pesticides Safety Directorate on June 27th. The incidents detailed in the report include 9 affecting badgers. The incident in which a dog was fatally poisoned took place in Devon last August and is still being investigated. http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=326.0 http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=326.0 Badger Message Board Fri, 30 Jun 2006 23:45:00 GMT 30 Jun 2006 A provisional programme for the 2006 Badger Trust Conference is now available. It features a panel of speakers covering a wide range of topics relating to badgers and their protection. The conference takes place over the weekend of August 4th - 6th and is hosted by the Gwent Badger Group. It will be held at the University of Wales, Caerleon. http://www.badger.org.uk/index_files/Badger%20Trust%20Conference%20Booking%20Form.pdf http://www.badger.org.uk/index_files/Badger%20Trust%20Conference%20Booking%20Form.pdf http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=300.0 Badger Message Board Wed, 28 Jun 2006 19:01:00 GMT 28 Jun 2006 The Western Morning News has reported that the prospects of a badger cull appear to be receding, following a large reduction in cases of bovine TB in cattle. DEFRA states: "There has been a substantial reduction in the number of new TB incidents in January - April 2006 compared to the same period in 2005. The provisional statistics ... indicate that this reduction is 27% ...". http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=323.0 http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=323.0 Badger Message Board Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:04:00 GMT 27 Jun 2006 The Badger Trust has expressed disappointment at the "cynical threats" of the National Beef Association (NBA). The NBA's chairman claimed that the Government risks 'losing essential farmer cooperation for further adoption of its Animal Health and Welfare Strategy', unless it culls badgers. Trevor Lawson, Badger Trust spokesman, asked: "Is Mr Burrell really suggesting that his members will deny their animals the best standards of health and welfare in order to make a political point?" http://www.badger.org.uk/news/060627.html http://www.badger.org.uk/news/060627.html http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=322.0 Badger Trust Tue, 27 Jun 2006 19:53:00 GMT 27 Jun 2006 Webmaster of 'Badgers on the Web', Steve Jackson, has written to DEFRA Secretary of State David Miliband calling for a ban on snares. Writing on the Badger Message Board, Steve says: "Many organisations are calling for a ban on snares, and now is the time for us all to work together and make a concerted effort to put pressure on the Government. Please follow my example and add your voice to the campaign against snares." http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=321.0 http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=321.0 Badger Message Board Sun, 25 Jun 2006 21:28:00 GMT 25 Jun 2006 Two DEFRA-funded research projects suggest that the Department is preparing for a badger cull to be carried out under licence by farmers, starting in 2007. The purpose of the projects (one now ended, the other just begun) is to establish current badger population densities so that the effects of any future culling can be measured. Other studies meanwhile are assessing the use of carbon monoxide gas and body snares as possible culling methods. http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=320.0 http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=320.0 Badger Message Board Sun, 25 Jun 2006 14:15:00 GMT 25 Jun 2006 The BBC News website has recently publicised the launch of a "A £1m field trial of a vaccine to combat tuberculosis in badgers". The trial is aimed at testing the safety and effectiveness of a badger vaccine. Work is also continuing on the development of a TB vaccine for cattle, with two projects being funded by DEFRA to the tune of £12.4 million. http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=319.0 http://www.badgers.org.uk/badger-board/index.php?topic=319.0 Badger Message Board Sun, 25 Jun 2006 14:12:00 GMT 25 Jun 2006