Badger Rehabilitation Protocol

Secret World Wildlife Rescue
National Federation of Badger Groups
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

March 2003

Forword to Badger Protocol

Contents

Chapter 1

• Policy 1
  
• Protocol for rehabilitation and release of badgers 1
  
• Best practice 1
  
• Reasons for rehabilitation 1
  
• Precautionary approach to bovine tuberculosis 1
  
• Regulation of badger rehabilitation 1
  
• Overview of rehabilitation process 2
  

Chapter 2

• Retrieving injured badgers
• Initial response
• Assess the situation
• Initial handling
• Orphaned
• Road traffic accidents
• Fully conscious and mobile (trapped or contained)
• Snared
• Further handling
• Do's and don'ts
• Notes on equipment
• Information for veterinarians

Chapter 3

• Registering and marking of badgers
• Registration
• Procedure
• Microchipping
• Tattooing

Chapter 4

• Adult badgers
• Protocol for treatment and release
• TB testing
• Euthanasia

Chapter 5

• Badger cubs
• Protocol for treatment and release
• Retrieving badger cubs
• TB testing and release
• Cubs not suitable for release
• Defining bovine TB areas

Chapter 6

• Taking and testing of blood samples
• Collection of blood
• Location
• Volume
• Storage of blood sample
• Laboratory for testing
• Testing frequency
• Contacts for advice on blood testing

Chapter 7

• Caring for badgers
• Introduction
• Initial care
• Warmth
• Bedding
• Feeding
• Administering medication
• Other issues

Chapter 8

• Cub rearing
• Introduction
• Age
• Very young cubs
• Care procedure
• Record keeping
• Process on arrival
• Feeding
• Bottle feeding
• Weaning
• Indoor weaning
• Infection and disease
• Hair loss
• Diarrhoea
• Inability to feed
• Anaesthetics
• Finally

Chapter 9

• Rehabilitation unit facilities
• Construction of facilities
• Licensing
• Planning permission
• Area required
• Construction of pens

Chapter 10

• Criteria for badger release sites
• Protocol for finding and selecting release sites
• Finding sites
• Checks to be made on potential sites

Chapter 11

• Release of badger cub groups
• General principles
• Landowners and land use
• Presence of an adequate food supply
• Detailed methods 3
• Composition of group
• Choice of release site
• Release

Chapter 12

• Transportation and release
• Issues for consideration
• Adult badgers
• Badger cub groups

Chapter 13

• Conclusion
• References
• Contact list
• Badger care and rehabilitation
• Conservation
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
• Licences
• Advice
• Licensing bodies
• Rehabilitation veterinary advice

Annex A

• Health and Safety responsibilities
• Introduction
• Zoonotic risks
• Legal requirements
• Precautions
• Badgers and bovine tuberculosis
• Useful further reading

Annex B

• Forms
• Specimen copies of rehabilitation record forms

 

New Road, East Huntspill, Highbridge, Somerset TA9 3PZ, UK
Tel. : (44) (01278) 783250, Fax : (44) (01278) 793109
...........................................................................................................
Website by Dae Sasitorn, lastrefuge.co.uk
and Angie Barber, The Secret World Wildlife Rescue