The lives of all the thousands of badgers slaughtered in the name of TB eradication have been lost in vain, writes Martin Hancox. The cryptic reservoir of bovine TB is the cattle themselves, and no amount of badger killing will make the slightest difference to the problem. Once we have grasped this reality the solution is astonishingly simple: improved TB testing that picks up all infected cattle.
… Alas poor Brock! The insanity of the badger cull Martin Hancox | 27th May 2016 Comment Badgers Science Natural World Farming UK Health badger-cut.jpg The lives of all the thousands …
Al available science indicates that badgers have little if anything to do with bovine TB in cattle, writes Lesley Docksey. This is reflected in Wales's consultation on its 'refreshed TB Eradication Programme'. We must hope that Northern Ireland's bTB Eradication Strategy will be equally science based - and ready to campaign hard if it relies on cruel, ineffective and expensive badger culls.
… Badger cull free TB eradication in Wales and … it! Lesley Docksey | 6th December 2016 News Badgers Science Health UK Northern Ireland … Al available science indicates that badgers have little if anything to do with …
Badgers are having a rough time in England, writes Lesley Docksey. But it's no better in most other European countries, where they enjoy no specific protection and digging, baiting and shooting are widespread. Hence the new Eurobadger coalition formed to campaign for them Europe-wide. The one shining example is Holland - TB-free since 1999 without killing a single badger!
… The Eurobadger coalition - fighting for badgers Europe-wide Lesley Docksey | 10th June 2016 Activism Badgers UK England France Germany Netherlands …
With today's news that badger culling will continue in Gloucester, Somerset and Dorset, and take place in three other counties, writes LESLEY DOCKSEY, there could be no more opportune moment for Dominic Dyer's new book 'Badgered to Death' to appear - expertly exposing the total absence of scientific evidence that badgers transmit bovine TB to cattle.
… Why are our badgers ‘Badgered to Death'? Lesley Docksey | 23rd August 2016 Reviews Badgers Natural World Science Farming Politics …
The Badger Trust' is in the Court of Appeal today, making its case that the 2014 'trial' badger cull is unlawful, writes Dominic Dyer. But beyond that, the entire culling policy is driven by politics, not science, and is doomed to failure. It's time for Cameron to harness his 'big society' to apply a genuine solution: badger vaccination.
… Unlawful, ineffective, toxic: the badger cull must end - vaccination is the … 10th October 2014 News Natural World Politics Badgers badger-its-your-fault-cut.jpg Never mind the …
Thirty years ago, there was no evidence that badgers spread bovine TB among cattle, writes Lesley Docksey. Nor is there now. Yet badgers are still being slaughtered in a futile attempt to control the disease. This timely republication of Richard Meyer's 1986 book reveals the belligerent ignorance of the officials, politicians and farmers driving the failed policy.
… 'The Fate of the Badger': the great badger scapegoating conspiracy Lesley Docksey | 11th October 2016 Reviews Badgers Books Science UK Farming …
The government / NFU badger culling policy is based on a single study, the Randomised Badger Culling Trials (RBCT), which found that area-wide badger killing reduced TB 'breakdowns' in cattle herds. But a robust reanalysis of the RBCT data reveals that culling is entirely ineffective, writes Tom Langton. The only scientifically valid conclusion is that culling badgers has no effect on TB in cattle. Defra and Natural England must think again!
… - fake science set to kill 100,000 English badgers Tom Langton | 13th April 2017 News Badgers Science Health Farming Politics UK England badger-rifle-tl-cut.jpg The government / NFU …
To live sustainably we must learn to live with wildlife, Patrick Barkham argues in his book Badgerlands. To do this we have much to learn from our ancestors - but we must also discard their barbaric practices and outrageous myths that, even today, some are so keen to perpetuate.
… The beguiling magic of badgers at dusk Lesley Docksey | 25th July 2014 Reviews Natural World Badgers UK badgerlands-cut.jpg To live sustainably we …
We know the outcome of Defra's latest 'public consultation' on killing badgers long before the results have even been analysed, writes Lesley Docksey. Environment secretary Andrea Leadsom has already promised farmers to extend the cull 'even further' - although it brings no proven benefits. Welcome to the new world of 'alternative facts' that's driving UK government policy.
… and the 'fiction' into science: England's badger cull Lesley Docksey | 27th February 2017 News Badgers UK England Politics Health Science Natural World Farming badger-cut.jpg We know the outcome of Defra's …
Milk farmers in the badger cull zones hardly depend on Caffè Nero's custom, writes Dominic Dyer. So why are the pro-cull lobby so hot under the collar with the coffee chain's refusal to buy their produce? Because it could force the entire food chain to take responsibility for how milk is produced - and a very good thing too!
… Where Caffè Nero leads on badger-free milk, others will follow Dominic Dyer | 13th June 2015 Comment Badgers Food Farming Consumerism UK badger-milk-cut.jpg Milk farmers in the badger …
A scientific paper published today says badger persecution may be one of the reasons for the persistence of bovine TB hotspots, writes Oliver Tickell. A further finding is that the main risk factors for bTB are all to do with cattle - not badgers at all.
… Do not disturb! Persecuting badgers may perpetuate TB hotspots Oliver … August 2015 News Farming UK Ireland Science Badgers badger-sett-cut.jpg A scientific paper …
New scientific research shows that culling badgers can increase local hedgehog numbers. As UK hedgehog populations continue to decline, Hugh Warwick asks - are badgers to blame? Or does the real problem lie elsewhere?
Following new research showing that even culling a single badger from a family can cause a 'perturbation' that spreads TB, a new call has gone out on farmers to give up on culling, and 'go badger friendly' to control the disease.
… HSI calls on farmers - 'go badger-friendly' to control bovine TB Lesley Docksey | 10th June 2014 News Badgers UK Natural World Health Farming badger-family-cut.jpg Following new research …
English Nature's decision to licence England's badger cull has no scientific basis, write Iain McGill and 26 other distinguished vets in this Open Letter to EN's Chief Scientist. Science Advisory Committee and Board. The body must urgently re-examine the entire issue before issuing any more licences to kill badgers.
… English Nature - no more badger cull licences! Iain McGill Veterinary … colleagues | 21st August 2015 Comment Badgers Science Health UK Politics Regulation badger-at-dusk-cut.jpg English Nature's …
Following last winter's severe flooding in SW England, the Government has refused to assess how badly badgers suffered - even though local populations could have crashed. If the cull goes ahead, badgers could be wiped out of some areas altogether.
… Cull could put flood-struck badgers 'at risk of local extinction' The Ecologist | 2nd June 2014 News UK Badgers Natural World Health Water Flooding badger-floods-cut.jpg Following last winter's …
Wales has achieved enviable success in reducing bovine TB in its cattle herds without killing badgers, writes Lesley Docksey. The farming lobby is still demanding an England-style cull, but the Welsh government's 'refreshed' policy on bTB remains firmly science-based and no badgers will be killed without 'objective evidence' of infection.
… demands 'objective evidence' before killing badgers. Whatever next? Lesley Docksey | 21st October 2016 Comment Badgers Health Wales UK Farming Science welsh-badgers-cut.jpg Wales has achieved enviable …
Owen Paterson's bold plans for a national badger cull rollout are now in tatters, writes Dominic Dyer, as he stands condemned by both sides in the debate. Wales shows the real way forward, with biosecurity, cattle movement control, TB testing and vaccination.
… Paterson's plans for a national badger cull bite the dust Dominic Dyer | 4th April 2014 Comment Natural World Badgers UK Politics Farming badger-daisies.png Owen Paterson's bold plans …