Man finds badger new home to save her from being put down

By Georgia Cook

A man battling to keep a badger he rescued in the wild has found her a forever home — saving her from being put down.

Ecologist Graeme Wilson, 55, discovered starving Harriet in a cow trough and nursed her back to health.

He said he was unable to release her back into the wild or find a zoo or sanctuary to take her and was later criticized by wildlife charities.

But Graeme says he has now found a licensed home for her where “she will be well looked after.”

He said: “Harriet will be placed somewhere where she isn’t under threat of euthanasia.

“She doesn’t know what’s going to happen to her this week, but where she is going has been brilliant.

“They have asked for her to be sent with a blanket that smells like me so she can slowly adapt. She will be well looked after.

“Harriet will be placed somewhere where she isn’t under threat of euthanasia.

“I’m going to be sad to see her go but I will treasure the time we had.

“If I had to do it again, would I do anything different?

“I probably would have contacted an extra couple of organizations but other than that, no.

“I only have those contacts now because of Harriet.

“It has affected me, but the most important thing for me is Harriet’s well-being.”

NatureScot had refused Graeme’s application for an educational license to keep Harriet.

He is currently looking after her at his home as over 5,000 people signed a petition calling for authorities to prioritize her well-being.

The British Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, Scottish Badgers and the Badgers Trust issued a joint statement criticizing Harriet’s care and the BWRC also suspended Graeme’s membership.

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They had said the only options for her were to be placed in specialist rehabilitation or euthanized.

Graeme, owner of rescue and rehabilitation service GW Ecology in the Scottish Borders, said he has been trolled over the affair.

He said: “The statement that came out from the BWRC, Scottish Badgers, and Badger Trust was unhelpful.

“They never contacted me at any time to discuss the case with me.

“The only contact I had was BWRC suspending my associate membership, and I wrote back asking them to cancel it.

“I was not aware they believed that any animal kept in captivity should be euthanized.

“I will always ask the question, if an animal is not fit for release, can it be kept in captivity with a good quality of life and be rehomed somewhere else.

“Since the statement has come out, I have been called various names including an animal abuser.

“I would’ve gladly talked to them and clarified any questions they had.

“They didn’t have all the details and suggested I had just been out and rescued her and there was no history there.

“Other professionals, including rescuers, vets, other badger people and I have all agreed that she had been previously hand-reared in almost 99% certainty.

“I didn’t approach certain rescues because I knew they believed in euthanizing the animal if they weren’t fit for release and that would be detrimental to Harriet’s welfare.”

Graeme has decided he will take a break from wildlife rescue for his own mental well-being as the situation has “taken its toll.”

He has praised the police and local council for their pragmatic approach.

He said: “National charities not only have a duty of care to the animals they look after, but also small organizations and individuals.

“I have had contact from Scottish Badgers today and it hasn’t affected my relationship with them.”

A change.org petition with over 5,000 signatures and a GoFundMe page has been set up to try and protect Harriet.

Graeme has said he will release a statement once Harriet is safe and settled in her new home.