Badger Cull Extended

Natural England has granted a three week extension to the Somerset badger cull.  The extended licenses were issued after the initial six week cull failed to reach its 70% target.  During the first six weeks 850 badgers were killed by trained marksmen equating to 59% of the estimated population.

Following the Somerset extension Natural England have also agreed an eight week extension on the cull in the second pilot area, Gloucestershire.  Marksmen are required to remove 540-940 badgers in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The company running the pilot requested the extension after just 30% of the estimated population was culled, well short of the 70% target.

However the extensions have proven controversial.  The Badger Trust has sent a ‘letter before action’ to Natural England as a potential precursor to a legal challenge.