A Scottish ecologist is in a custody battle with a government body over an orphaned badger he rescued from starvation.
Graeme Wilson, 55, fears Harriet could be taken away after NatureScot rejected his application for an educational licence to keep her.
The cub was found thin and filthy in a cattle trough around 100m from her sett in April.
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“Harriet was thin and very dirty when found,” he told What’s The Jam.
“This suggested she had been on her own for a while without food and also grooming, which would normally be done by mum.”
The wildlife rescuer believes Harriet had previously been hand-reared because she immediately recognised a feeding bottle.
He says she is now so accustomed to people that releasing her could place both Harriet and members of the public at risk.
NatureScot has reportedly suggested returning her to the wild or moving her to a zoo, but Graeme believes neither option would meet her needs.
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“I want her to stay with me, but if there was a better option for her future I would be heartbroken but would accept,” Graeme, from Denholm in the Scottish Borders, said.
Graeme has urged officials to come and meet her and see how she has ‘imprinted’ on him.
“Being in a zoo will cause undue stress as she tries to reach the people looking at her,” he said.
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Graeme says the bond the pair have is strong, and that Harriet recognises his voice and becomes visibly excited when she sees him.
He added: “Harriet is a delight to live with, as you never know what she will get up to.
“She loves to shuffle about for food and will nibble at my legs.
“The nibbling is something she would normally do with other badgers.
“When she sees me, she jumps up and down and makes excited noises.”
“She currently sleeps in a large dog crate as I cannot afford to spend money on larger accommodation if a licence is not given.”
Unlike other members of her species, Harriet sleeps more at night as she has not learned to be nocturnal from other badgers.
Graeme has more than 25 years of experience in ecology across local authority, voluntary and private-sector roles.
He studied Environmental Bioscience and has previously worked for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Midlothian Council and The Wildlife Information Centre.
He has also independently rehabilitated wildlife for years, including bats, birds, hedgehogs and larger mammals.
Graeme claims Police Scotland contacted him and said its “hands are tied” while Harriet’s future is decided.
He said officers had agreed to wait until after the Bonfire Night period before revisiting the situation.
Badgers and their setts are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, with NatureScot responsible for wildlife licensing in Scotland.
A NatureScot spokesperson said:
“We have been continuing discussions with Mr Wilson and other relevant organisations to try to find a find a pragmatic solution to this unique situation.
“The welfare of the badger has always been key while we consider the circumstances of the case.
“The licence application was to keep the badger for educational purposes.
“We refused the licence as it didn’t meet the strict legal tests required.
“As it is against the law to keep a badger without a licence, we advised Mr Wilson that the badger should either be passed to a wildlife park or released from its cage and given the choice of freedom, by allowing it free access from his property.
“If Mr Wilson chooses to release the badger back into the wild from his property, then he is allowed to feed it and provide it with shelter.
“As a wild animal, however, the badger’s movements must not be restricted, she must always have a choice to move around and must not be put on display at home or elsewhere.
“Our understanding was that Mr Wilson had agreed to release the badger into his garden and its surroundings after Bonfire Night.
“We support this reasonable approach.
“Our view is that this would have offered a solution that will ensure the badger’s welfare while recognising the unusual circumstances of the case.”
Police Scotland has been made aware of the situation.
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