Auld Bawsend-pate

As a Warwickshire GP I frequently encountered badgers on night visits, for they were common in the Midlands. In nearly ten years I have only seen one in Perthshire. Last autumn, returning late from a supper party my wife and I were near Comrie Bridge when we were puzzled by an animal running in the road. It was grey and hairy rather like a small sheep. After running for fifty yards he turned to look at us; instantly we recognised the striped face; it was Brock. Next day I mentioned this to a friend who said that two days before he had seen a dead badger at the same spot.

Charles St. John, an early twentieth century writer about Scottish wildlife, said of him: “of an ancient family he certainly is - the fossil remains which have been found, prove his race to have been co-existent with that of the mammoths and megatheriums which once roamed over our islands.... our friend the brock still continues to burrow in the solitary and unfrequented recesses of our larger woods.” 

They are mentioned frequently in the Statistical Accounts but as rare creatures. A minister in Argyleshire wrote in the New Account: ‘the country people have an idea that there are two distinct varieties of badger: one with claws and a nose like a dog, and another with the snout of a hog and cloven feet. But, as we have never encountered the latter prodigy, we can only vouch for the existence of Meles vulgaris.'

In the Breadalbane vermin list between 1891 and 1901 41 badgers were paid for but probably more were killed and they were reported near Aberfeldy and Strathbraan. Scottish gamekeepers regarded Brock as “among the most formidable and difficult of ground vermin to deal with ...the badger is not generally found in this country; there are few game-preservers who regret its absence.” It is sad that this shy, beautiful animal was so persecuted by man. He really did little harm ... but it does not require much of a bad reputation to incur persecution from man. Though sometimes used for food badgers were more often used in Scotland for making sporrans and, because they do not suffer from anthrax, their hair was used in the manufacture of shaving brushes. 

Setts are often of considerable antiquity and may resemble fox’s earths. The entrance is slightly oval and there may be visible grey hairs adhering to roots in the hole. The nest is lined with dry grass, bracken and leaves, often these materials are visible round the entrance. Badgers are clean animals, better housekeepers than foxes, and leave less discarded food outside. Surrounding the sett there may be small holes excavated as latrines. This cleanliness may provide a clue to the frequently reported Badger funerals. On several occasions dead badgers have been seen to be removed from setts and, at least once, ‘buried’ in a rabbit warren. The term ‘funeral’ with its concept of respect for the dead may be misleading. Badgers are such clean creatures that the removal of a dead relative from the sett may result from a sense of hygiene rather than the grief which the term funeral implies. I remain unconvinced, but the coincidence of seeing a live badger close to the body of another raises questions. Does any reader have experience of badger funerals? 

Bovine tuberculosis is a disease common to badgers and cattle. The Veterinary Association for Wildlife Management have expressed concern at the alarming escalation of bovine TB and urge that a sustained and comprehensive cull of badgers is essential in areas where there is a high incidence of the disease in cattle in order to control the disease in both species.

Sadly these once persecuted creatures, though now protected by law, may once again be slaughtered by man. Fortunately, at present Scotland is relatively free of bovine TB so it is to be hoped that Scots Brocks will be spared.

©Robin Hul