Injured badger found on Hastings road

The animal was struggling to move out of the road on The Ridge.

Trevor Weeks MBE, founder and operations director for East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS), said: “The gentleman found the badger at around 3am last Thursday (October 1). The man carefully picked up the badger, moved it into the hedge at the side of the road and called another rescue charity, leaving a message on their answerphone.

“We are unsure whether that organisation attended or whether they were unable to find the badger as it was in a hedge. The man returning from work in the afternoon found the badger still present and on driving home found WRAS’s phone number and called us out.

“We were on site within the hour and found the badger at the bottom of a ditch in the hedge. Two rescuers helped me to secure the badger which was not easy fighting with bushes and a steep sided ditch.

“The badger was wrapped in a blanket, lifted up, placed into a cage and moved onto the neighbouring driveway before being assessed.

“Under veterinary advice pain relief was given as it was clear the badger was in discomfort.

“Our vet Chris Hall, from Henley House Vets in Uckfield, took the badger in for an X-ray and assessment. The X-ray revealed some nasty injuries and fractures and after all our hard work we had no choice but to have the poor creature put to sleep.”

Other calls WRAS has dealt with over the last week have included a poorly white pigeon from Battle last Thursday.

Trevor added: “There have also been a number of young doves and pigeons still coming into care. We are also starting to get pigeons coming in with canker, a fungal infection in the throat. We have also had a tawny owl rescued on Saturday night (October 3) by rescuer Tony Meads after being called out to The Ridge.

“The owl had a blow to the head, and I met Tony at the casualty centre late at night to help give first aid. There doesn’t appear to be any fractures and we hope he will make a full recovery.”

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