Have a look here at the latest RSPB view on the news today regarding the governments announcement on a badger cull.
Warden Intern at Otmoor.
It's terrible news! Can't believe that this is being allowed to go ahead! IF any shooting should be permitted (I'm totally against a cull - vaccination is the way forward!) then it should only be by experienced marksmen who are able to shoot dead... I dread to think of what this will lead to!
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
My photos on Flickr
Well if they arnt going to cull them in Wales (good) they wont find it any easier in England.
A very old Shropshire Lad.
Well it is a very strange stance by the RSPB in the sense that there stance is I believe wrong in many aspects,they state that cattle movements need controlling more---fact it is impossible to have more controls on animal movement in practical terms and the RSPB only need to read the rules on this to get the facts before saying things that are wrong.The RSPB vaccination of cattle and badgers is the way forward----fact is farmers wish this was true and the truth is that a reliable vaccine is as far away as 2020 at earliest and E U will not allow us to vaccinate cattle or no exports anyway.
Wonder how those farmers who have cattle and have co-operated with RSPBon releasing cranes on Somerset Levels will feel now RSPB have told them if badgers on the RSPB land have B T B they cannot control them.Seems double standards to me.
Think whatever RSPB stance is they should get their facts right so seeing as they are so much for vaccination hope they follow N T example and get vaccinating on their land,they will get a shock at the cost and it is I believe innefective on badgers already infected.
It is nowhere near as straightforward as RSPB make out and indeed by delaying things badgers are suffering as much as anything else by being infected by those in sett already infected.
The RSPB should get the facts right and not just take a view to curry favour with the public.
The worst aspect of this is that the country was almost clear of this disease with selective culling before it was stopped .
Thank you for your comments so far.
The RSPB is not alone in thinking cattle testing and movement controls are important. The Government’s new plan acknowledges this and also sets out a series of improvements they are considering.
92% of the 59,000 responses to the Government’s consultation last year supported vaccination. We think it is very disappointing that the Government isn’t more positive about vaccination. There is an injectable badger vaccine available now. It is expensive to administer but then so is properly controlled culling. Vaccination has the twin advantage of not risking making TB worse and having widespread public support.
The National Trust deserves credit for their vaccination project. They have a large estate in a TB hotspot area where they can make a real difference. The RSPB doesn’t have a similar landholding where we could do the same.
Selective badger culling is not the way forward. A recent scientific study showed that the impact of reactive culling was to double the risk to neighbouring farms of a TB outbreak. This is in no one’s interests.
http://www.bromsgrovestandard.co.uk/story-'Decision-to-cull-is-a-black-day-for-badgers'-47592.html
Ok, I'm no Eco warrior, scientist, or Farmer and don't pretend to know the ethics of these culls. BUT who or what is the biggest culprit for the state of our world today !!! yes, we are. Now just supposing Mother Nature decided "I've had enough, time for the animals to fight back" and they decided to start culling the human race !!!!! Worth a thought !!
Leave the Badgers alone.
Feed The Birds....not the cats!!!!
I know....my spelling's crap !!
Unknown said:Leave the Badgers alone.
Hear! Hear!
I know this is a controversial subject so just wanted to hear what other people's opinions are on this forum .
From everything I've read I do think this is a serious issue for farmers in certain parts of the country. You've only got to see what Adam Henson of Countryfile has had to endure on his farm in Gloucestershire.
Whether culling is the right way to go about solving the problem is open to debate. I know some people are of the view that it will disperse badger families which will cause them to move into areas away from the cull and may actually exacerbate the problem. I'm not qualified to know whether this is the case or not.
Instinctively, I feel there's got to be a better way. If more effort and probably money could be put into research for a vaccine to control TB in badgers or cattle or both then surely this is preferable to the crude approach of extermination.
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
I might be a bit thick on this (so what else is new) but what is the problem about vaccinating cattle against Tb, is it because it is not practical or as I suspect cheaper to kill off the badgers can someone explain?
Regards Mike
Pssst! Nudge nudge Wanna see some pictures Here
Apparently we're a few years away from a cattle vaccine.... why? I've no idea since as this isn't a new issue! Should get their fingers out!