News story

Somerset badger cull extension granted

Application to extend the Somerset badger cull pilot has now been approved.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Natural England and The Rt Hon Owen Paterson
• Published: 14 October 2013

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Natural England has confirmed that criteria have been met to allow the badger cull in west Somerset to continue under licence.

The new licence will allow the cull to continue for three more weeks to help prevent the spread of bovine TB. This extension suppliments the original four-year licence granted in October last year.

During the original six-week cull period 850 badgers were culled. The minimum number of badgers to be culled under this new licence is 165, with a maximum number of 282.

An application to extend cull in west Gloucestershire has also been received by Natural England and will be processed in due course.

Click here for the Natural England press release.

Published 14 October 2013