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Man fighting for custody of badger he nursed back from starvation

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

NatureScot rejected Wilson's licence application and proposed either releasing the cub, named Harriet, into the wild or sending her to a zoo. Wilson argues that Harriet sees humans as her family and would likely face injury or death if freed. With Police Scotland now notified about the case, the agency maintains it is still in discussions to reach a pragmatic outcome focused on animal welfare.

Key points

  • Wilson believes returning the human-reliant cub to nature would result in her being hurt…: Wilson believes returning the human-reliant cub to nature would result in her being hurt or killed.
  • Local badger rescue groups are actively supporting Wilson despite his limited legal optio…: Local badger rescue groups are actively supporting Wilson despite his limited legal options and police involvement.
  • Regulators and animal welfare organizations are continuing discussions to find a suitable…: Regulators and animal welfare organizations are continuing discussions to find a suitable solution for Harriet.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

- Published

An ecologist in the Scottish Borders is fighting to be allowed to keep a badger that he saved from starvation.

Graeme Wilson was called out to help the cub, called Harriet, in April after she was found in a cattle trough 100m (300ft) from her sett.

Wilson nursed the badger back to health but believes she was hand-reared prior to this, and it would be impossible to return her to the wild.

NatureScot - which turned down his application for an educational licence to keep the animal - said it was continuing talks to try to find a "pragmatic solution".

Wilson runs GW Ecology, a small independent rescue and rehabilitation service at his home in Denholm.

It carries out surveys to determine whether protected species are present on the sites of proposed property developments.

He also leads bat walks, workshops and holds educational events about wildlife and how to protect it.

Wilson describes himself as an "experienced and trained wildlife rehabber" who has cared for a variety of wildlife over the years.

He argues that an educational licence…

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