Illegal badger killing increasing

Badgers are a protected species and killing them without a license is illegal.

But the Secret World Wildlife Rescue centre near Burnham-on-Sea say cruel treatment of badgers is on the rise. Cases have increased dramatically since the culling programmes were rolled out.

This male badger was found dead on the side of a road in Locking.

It had been caught in a snare, causing horrific injuries - according to vets he would have suffered a slow and painful death.

The snare was not attached to any securing line so the badger must have must have struggled free or been caught on a drag snare which is attached to a loose log.

Secret World say a lactating female badger was found shot in March, again having taken hours or days to die. Her death would have meant her cuds would have died too.