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Welfare of badgers (Meles meles) subjected to culling: patterns of trap-related injury

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

R Woodroffe ,
FJ Bourne ,
DR Cox ,
CA Donnelly ,
G Gettinby ,
JP McInerney  and
WI Morrison
R Woodroffe*
Affiliation:
Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB, c/o Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 1A Page Street, London SW1P 4PQ, UK
FJ Bourne
Affiliation:
Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB, c/o Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 1A Page Street, London SW1P 4PQ, UK
DR Cox
Affiliation:
Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB, c/o Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 1A Page Street, London SW1P 4PQ, UK Nuffield College, New Road, Oxford OX1 1NF, UK
CA Donnelly
Affiliation:
Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB, c/o Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 1A Page Street, London SW1P 4PQ, UK Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, St Mary's Campus, London W2 1PG, UK
G Gettinby
Affiliation:
Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB, c/o Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 1A Page Street, London SW1P 4PQ, UK Department of Statistics and Modelling Science, University of Strathclyde, George Street, Glasgow G1 1XH, UK
JP McInerney
Affiliation:
Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB, c/o Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 1A Page Street, London SW1P 4PQ, UK Agricultural Economics Unit, University of Exeter, Lafrowda House, St German's Road, Exeter EX4 6TL, UK
WI Morrison
Affiliation:
Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB, c/o Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 1A Page Street, London SW1P 4PQ, UK Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: rwoodroffe@ucdavis.edu
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Abstract

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For over 25 years, European badgers (Meles meles) have been subject to culling in Britain in attempts to limit the spread of tuberculosis (TB) to cattle. As part of a far-reaching evaluation of the effectiveness and acceptability of badger culling as a TB control measure, this paper assesses one aspect of the welfare of badger populations subjected to culling: the risk of badgers confined to cage traps prior to despatch becoming injured as a result of rubbing or biting on the cage. In a large-scale field trial, 88% of badgers received no detectable injuries as a result of being confined in the trap. Of those that were injured, 72% received only minor skin abrasions. A minority (1.8% of the total) acquired damage to the teeth or jaws that may have caused serious pain. Although trap rounds were commenced in the early morning, badgers were no more likely to sustain injuries when they remained in traps until later in the day. Coating of cage traps, intended to give the wire mesh a smoother surface, was associated with a reduction in the incidence of minor skin abrasions, although it may have slightly increased the frequency of less common but more serious abrasions. Modification of the door design reduced tooth damage. Traps will be further modified if appropriate. However, all aspects of the conduct of trapping operations must balance badger welfare with concerns for the health and safety of field staff.

Keywords

animal welfarebovine tuberculosisbox trapcage trapcapture myopathyEuropean badger
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 14 , Issue 1 , February 2005 , pp. 11 - 17
Copyright
© 2005 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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