For the last week this Mouse has been spending his nights out in the countryside watching Badgers with the cold as my only constant companion. I have been planning to do this for a while, and it has only been a change of circumstance that has enabled me the time to start what will now be a year long project. Part of the reason for needing to watch the badgers is simply that there are people out there who are intent on doing them harm. Then, as I wrote about just a day after starting this project, the government’s chief scientist starts calling on the government to cull badgers in an attempt to reduce the problems of TB in cattle.
Apart from the fact that this is bad science, but it also sends out the wrong message to the type of people who are involved in badger digging, badger baiting and dog fighting. Already I have seen strangers abroad in the night looking for the Badger sets, following the coverage in the media. On my previous nights out over the last few months that was something that was not occurring. It could be that it is just coincidence but I suspect that these people think that they can get away with harming badgers if the government is planning to kill them anyway.
Locally, I don’t actually think that Tuberculosis is much of a problem, at least not from talking to two cattle farmers in the local environs. But the increased activity is worrying.
The Badgers themselves appear to be doing quite well and while cautious seem not to be effected by the men out with dogs and lamps. However, it does make it difficult for me to observe natural behaviour, other than seeing the badgers disappearing at the sent, sight and sound of these men.
I myself am quite well hidden, and while I still have not devised a way of photographing the Badgers at night, I have had the chance of seeing Foxes and Deer as well. In fact this morning I was so busy taking pictures of a fox that I nearly missed seeing two Roe Deer. If I had not been filming the fox, I would have been able to get some great pictures of the Deer. They were only thirty meters away from me, but I risked disturbing all the wildlife in the vicinity had I not remained calm. Difficult when I am so excited to see all this natural history so close.
I do have a clip of video of the fox that I hope to place on this Blog if I can ever work out how to do it.
As I said part of my reason for wanting to watch the badgers was to ensure that they are protected. My experience of Badger watching stems from reading a book, A Forest By Night, which I found in my local library as a child. It was about the author’s experiences of Watching Badgers in what was my then local wood, Epping Forest. This inspired me to go out and watch the same Sett’s and what must have been the offspring of his Badgers. Although I never met Fred Speakman, I owe him a lot.
Only recently have I been able to buy a copy of this book, and rereading it gave me an idea of doing my own. I even have two publishers that are willing to read the manuscript once it is written. That doesn’t mean it will ever get published, and apart from anything else I still have to write the book. However, it does give me a justification for spending my nights out in the dark while my peanuts get frosted.
Apart from the fact that this is bad science, but it also sends out the wrong message to the type of people who are involved in badger digging, badger baiting and dog fighting. Already I have seen strangers abroad in the night looking for the Badger sets, following the coverage in the media. On my previous nights out over the last few months that was something that was not occurring. It could be that it is just coincidence but I suspect that these people think that they can get away with harming badgers if the government is planning to kill them anyway.
Locally, I don’t actually think that Tuberculosis is much of a problem, at least not from talking to two cattle farmers in the local environs. But the increased activity is worrying.
The Badgers themselves appear to be doing quite well and while cautious seem not to be effected by the men out with dogs and lamps. However, it does make it difficult for me to observe natural behaviour, other than seeing the badgers disappearing at the sent, sight and sound of these men.
I myself am quite well hidden, and while I still have not devised a way of photographing the Badgers at night, I have had the chance of seeing Foxes and Deer as well. In fact this morning I was so busy taking pictures of a fox that I nearly missed seeing two Roe Deer. If I had not been filming the fox, I would have been able to get some great pictures of the Deer. They were only thirty meters away from me, but I risked disturbing all the wildlife in the vicinity had I not remained calm. Difficult when I am so excited to see all this natural history so close.
I do have a clip of video of the fox that I hope to place on this Blog if I can ever work out how to do it.
As I said part of my reason for wanting to watch the badgers was to ensure that they are protected. My experience of Badger watching stems from reading a book, A Forest By Night, which I found in my local library as a child. It was about the author’s experiences of Watching Badgers in what was my then local wood, Epping Forest. This inspired me to go out and watch the same Sett’s and what must have been the offspring of his Badgers. Although I never met Fred Speakman, I owe him a lot.
Only recently have I been able to buy a copy of this book, and rereading it gave me an idea of doing my own. I even have two publishers that are willing to read the manuscript once it is written. That doesn’t mean it will ever get published, and apart from anything else I still have to write the book. However, it does give me a justification for spending my nights out in the dark while my peanuts get frosted.
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1 comment:
Great pic!
Book sounds like a great idea-plus it might generate support for the badgers!!!
MsTree
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