If you’ve found an injured animal, call for help.
Many local badger groups have trained rescuers who can be called out in an emergency to an injured badger. Use the map on the Badger Trust Website, find your local group and call their emergency numbers.
Unless specifically asked to do so by an experienced rescuer, do not approach the badger but observe from a safe distance.
If the badger is on the road, carefully warn other road users but don’t put yourself at risk while doing so.
If the badger is caught in a snare or is injured in a trap, do not attempt to release it as it may need veterinary treatment. Do not attempt to handle the badger as it may cause you injury.
If your local badger group does not have an emergency number, or if you need help for an injured dog or other animal, call the RSPCA on 0300 1234999 or contact a local animal rescue.
If at all possible, remain nearby so you can show rescuers to the location. If you are unable to stay, leave a marker (e.g. string tied to a tree) to help rescuers identify the location.
If the injured animal was found in suspicious circumstances, and only after calling for help, go back to the home screen and select the relevant incident category.
Cage traps can only legally be used to trap badgers under licence. For example, they area used in licensed badger vaccination programmes (these cages should always be clearly labelled) and for licensed badger culling.
Licenses for cage-trapping are normally only issued for the months of June to November for culling. Trapping of badgers in the field to enable vaccination is only permitted between 1 May and 31 December inclusive in Wales. Traps may start to appear in the environment a few weeks before. Traps are not allowed to be placed on top of spoil heaps, dug into sett entrances or obstruct access to the sett.
Cages used to trap badgers are usually baited with peanuts, although other bait is sometimes used.
Occasionally, badgers are caught in cage traps designed for foxes, stray cats or other mammals.
Cage traps are sometimes used illegally without a licence, including by badger baiters.
Setting any trap deliberately at badger sett entrances, on badger runs or in close proximity to a sett may constitute a criminal offence, regardless of whether a badger has been caught, unless it is done under licence.
Some leghold or bodygrip traps are legal to use in some circumstances, depending on the design and target animal, but never to trap a badger or other mammal listed in Schedule 6 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Fenn traps are legal for use to trap certain species, but they must be placed in a suitable tunnel to exclude non-target species. Setting traps deliberately at badger sett entrances, on badger runs or in close proximity to a sett may constitute a criminal offence, regardless of whether a badger is caught.
Gin traps were completely banned in 1954 and any discovery of such a trap, whether in relation to badgers or not, should always be reported to the police.
Snares are legal to use in some circumstances, depending on the design, but never to trap a badger or other animal listed in Schedule 6 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Setting snares deliberately at badger sett entrances, on badger runs or in close proximity to a sett may constitute a criminal offence, regardless of whether a badger is caught.
Free running snares are designed to loosen when the animal stops struggling. Self-locking snares will continue to tighten around the animal and risk causing serious injury or death, and are always illegal. It is also illegal to modify free-running snares in such a way that they continuously tighten. Discovery of self-locking snares, whether in relation to badgers or not, should be reported to the police.
It is vital that you collect evidence when a badger crime has been committed. Listed below are the important things to document, if it is safe to do so. Make sure you store your photos and videos securely. Do not edit or alter them in any way.
