Marshalling his troops - Pitchcare

caused by Mycobacterium bovis, a
close relative of the bacterium
that usually causes TB in humans.
Because the bovine bacterium
can also cause human TB, infected
cattle have to be destroyed.
The incidence of the disease
has been growing in Wales. WAG
says that more than 12,000 cattle
were slaughtered as a result of TB
infection in 2008 (compared with
669 in 1997), at a cost of £24m to
the public purse.
About badgers
Badgers are members of the
Mustelidae family,which also
includes otters, polecats, mink,
ferrets, stoats and weasels. They
are widesperad throughtout
England and Wales, with a few
small colonies in Scotland.
Although they are classified as
carnivores, badgers actually eat a
wide variety of foods. A large
proportion of their diet consists of
earthworms, but they are
opportunistic foragers and will
also feed on fruit, berries, small
mammals, birds, carrion, insects
and other invertebrates at various
times of the year.
An average social group of
adults will be made up of 5-12
males, females, juveniles and
cubs. In areas where the
population is low, there may be
just one individual or a pair using
a sett. In one area of the
Cotswolds, it is estimated that
there are thirty adult badgers per
square kilometre.
Badgers make runs to and from
their setts. These can become very
obvious pathways over time, and
very little will prevent a family
group using an established run.
They will dig under fences, walls
etc. if they are put in the way of
their path.
The entrances to a badger sett
will be oval, similar in shape to the
human eye, the shape is created
because badgers dig out by
pushing all the spoils from the
side. Bedding is regularly changed
in a set, the old bedding is pushed
outside and left - an oval hole with
dead grass and lots of dug out soil
is a dead give away that it is an
active sett.
Established setts can be over
one hundred years old, and the
underground tunnels can cover
thousands of square metres.
Dug pits, which are scrapes in
the soil with very runny droppings
in the bottom, are another definite
sign badgers are present.
The grubbing up of grassland by
badgers is the result of foraging
for earthworms or insect larvae
that can be found just under the
surface.
Control
Under the Protection of Badgers
Act 1992, it is a criminal offence
to wilfully kill, injure, take, cruelly
ill treat or offer for sale a living
badger. It is also an offence to
damage a badger sett or any part
of it, including; to obstruct access
to, or entrance of a badger sett; to
cause a dog to enter a badger sett;
or disturb a badger when it is
occupying a sett.
It is an offence to use creosote
or any other chemical preparation
to prevent a badger entering a
sett.
What can be done?
Reducing the numbers of
earthworms, insect larvae and
beetles by using one of the
approved pesticides can reduce
the impact caused by badgers in
sensitive areas.
High powered electric fences,
that are switched on only at night,
with one strand of wire 8cm from
the ground and a second wire
18cm high, will deter all but the
most determined badger from an
area.
We, as a business, have
achieved some good results
keeping badgers off grassland
with the chemical repellent,
Rezist, that I mentioned in the
articles on rabbits and mole
control. This is, however, a new
product and its long term effects
have yet to be established.
Don’t forget, you can always ask
me or www.ukpestcontrollers.org
for advice. Andy Beddoes
www.abcomplete.co.uk
DRAINAGE
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... but everything you
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IRRIGATION SPECIALISTS
DESIGN & SUPPLY
INSTALLATION
MAINTENANCE
Tel. 01722 716361
www.mjabbott.co.uk
For all your golf, sportsturf and
landscape irrigation needs.
Buy online at www.lws.uk.com
Telephone 0845 230 9697
www.lws.uk.com
Design
Installation
Service
Irrigation supplies
Tel: 01785 812706
E: NSIrrigation@aol.com
www.northstaffsirrigation.co.uk
British Turf & Landscape
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www.pitchcare.com
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