Managing public demand for badger rehabilitation in an area of England with endemic tuberculosis

Veterinary treatment and rehabilitation of indigenous wildlife

“…There are approximately 80 UK wildlife rescue centres (Mullineaux & Kidner ) dealing with an estimated 30 to 40,000 animals per annum (Molony et al. ), although true figures of admissions have been suggested to be double this (Grogan & Kelly ).…”

“…High rates of hedgehog mortality were found on Polish roads, especially in urban areas (Orlowski & Nowak ). RTC also accounted for 37% of adult badger casualties admitted to wildlife hospitals in the UK (Mullineaux & Kidner ) and was the most common reason for presentation of koala in Australia (Griffith et al. ).…”

“…). Naturally occurring trauma such as conspecific (“territorial”) wounding in badgers may also be a reason for admission whereby 58% of all badger casualties had this lesion (Mullineaux & Kidner ).…”

“…Many authors have observed a distinct seasonality to casualty admissions, typically related to breeding season (Kelly & Bland , Molina‐López & Darwich , Molina‐López et al. , Mullineaux & Kidner , Ancillotto et al. , Griffith et al.…”

Rehabilitating and releasing badgers in England

“…The Protocol has a strong emphasis on testing for and minimising the risk of transmission of M bovis to other badgers, cattle and other animals during the rehabilitation process and in the immediate post-release period. The relatively small numbers of badgers involved, and the low incidence of disease recorded in these animals (Mullineaux and Kidner 2011), coupled with risk reduction measures taken during rehabilitation, mean that the real risk is likely to be low.…”