Somerset badger cull extension confirmed

The badger cull has been extended by three weeks in west Somerset to help marksmen hit their targets and remove at least 70% of the badger population, Natural England has confirmed.


The executive agency granted marksmen a licence to extend the cull in the county until 1 November after marksmen culled 850 badgers, about 60% of the local population.


A Natural England statement said: “The new licence authorises a three-week control operation to be carried out this autumn and supplements that authorised under the original four-year licence granted in October last year.


“Under the original licence 850 badgers were culled during a six-week period that ended earlier this week.


“The new licence allows the licensee to continue culling and specifies a minimum number of 165 and a maximum number of 282 to deliver disease control benefits while reducing the risk of local extinction.”


Meanwhile, a decision on whether to extend the cull in the second pilot area of west Gloucestershire “will be processed in due course”, it added.


The six-week pilot cull, part of government plans to eradicate bovine TB, ended in west Somerset last Monday (7 October).


Earlier, DEFRA secretary Owen Paterson told the House of Commons in a written statement that the badger cull has been successful despite marksmen falling short of their targets.


“Current indications suggest the pilot has been safe, humane and effective in delivering a reduction in the badger population of just under 60%,” he said.


“We set ourselves a challenging target of aiming to ensure that 70% of the badger population was removed during the pilot.


“The chief veterinary officer has advised that the 60% reduction this year will deliver clear disease benefits as part of a four-year cull.”


Mr Paterson added that he would make a further statement after the pilot cull in Gloucestershire ends.


More on this topic


Bovine TB and the badger cull