I have recently seen two articles in The Argus about badger cubs being rescued – now followed by a letter from Pat Hayden of The Badger Trust looking for donations to pay for the upkeep and rescue of abandoned badger cubs (Letters, April 9).

The question of just how “abandoned” badger cubs really are comes to mind when these stories appear.

Farmers and the Government have demonised badgers and decided it is not the vile, intensive industrialising of animal life by overcrowding or poor husbandry or plain cruelty that is making cows vulnerable to tuberculosis – it is badgers.

The public may, therefore, believe they can disturb, remove or kill badgers without consequence if they wish to. In truth, badgers are heavily protected from any form of interference, attack, removal, killing or damage to their setts.

A special licence from DEFRA is required to interfere with setts but it rarely granted.

Even putting up a replacement fence requires care if a sett is nearby. This issue came up at Goldstone Crescent during the past week or so near a proposed redevelopment site. If people are unaware of wildlife needs, it is easy to get it wrong – and few of us know enough.

It has become commonplace for humans to only see their own needs and wants and to pay lip service to wildlife and ecological matters. All these laws and protections are as much for our benefit as for the animals. The presence of wildlife is proof of the liveability of an area and the survival of us selfish humans really does depend on the survival of everything else in nature. Please call the RSPCA or dial 999 and use the law to protect badger cubs from becoming “abandoned” if you see human activity anywhere near a badger sett.

Valerie Paynter

saveHOVE

POBox 521

Hove