 |
| Author | Topic: Working with Badgers |
| Paul |
posted 5/14/03 2:17 PM
Does anyone have any tips for working with badgers? We have one at work who generally seems docile enough. However,he can become aggresive and my colleague suggested we could calm him down if we left out some grubs, although i think he is best left to his own devices. Any tips? We have called our badger "Neil". |
| Stephen |
posted 5/14/03 2:36 PM
I’ve always found badgers to be amenable enough. The problem is that recent weather conditions have reduced the earth worm population and this may mean yours is a little grouchy, rather than aggressive. You can buy worms from anglers’ tack shops. Gifts like this can help you bond with your badger. |
| Old Naturalist |
posted 5/15/03 9:31 AM
Based on my experience, you should be taking great care of your badger. Feed him well, and try to shelter him from stressful situations. Given appropriate care, your badger should give you years of fun. |
| Gee |
posted 5/15/03 3:03 PM
Thank you for your comments..My advice - leave the badger to its own devices. Being a wild animal with an instinctive fear of man domestication or human contact should be avoided. Leaving food out is really not to be recommended, but some people insist on doing this. In such case the food should only be in very small quantities as to ensure the badger does not become dependent on it, and urbanised in the process. Feeding should NEVER be done by hand. The food should also not be harmful to them. I know of people who feed them cakes, yoghurt, curry and other such foods. These are totally unnatural to the badger's digestive system and metabolism, and will rot their teeth in any case. If I have to, I would recommend dog food or peanuts (not salted). If the badger has to cross roads for the food then there is the risk that it will be killed, and so should definitely not be encouraged to do so - it is estimated that around 45,000 badgers a year die on the roads yearly. There is often an underlying cause to why a badger will voluntarily come into contact with humans, their only real enemy in their eyes - for example, it may be ill, injured or old, and can't survive in the wild. In effect, in such case the badger's quality of life is affected. As such, when a badger starts visiting for food, and shows aggression particularly, then the local badger group or RSPCA etc should be informed so that the situation can be looked into my experts. There was a very recent case on the news of a badger that bit a few people, this was a 'domesticated' badger who became aggressive when it was probably very hungry, and was trying to find food - and people got in its way. A badger will not 'love' humans as, say, a pet dog would, so be aware.Anyone in situations as the above can contact me by email for details of their nearest badger group.ThanksGee, Neath Port Talbot Badger Group.(webmaster) |
|
|