Policy paper

How to run a scheme to vaccinate badgers

Updated 3 May 2022

1. Introduction

The Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme (BEVS 2) provides funding to contribute to the cost of vaccinating badgers in the Edge Area of England with BCG vaccine from 2019 to 2023.

The scheme is closed to new applications. It will run until 28 February 2023.

This document provides information about how to run a scheme to vaccinate badgers. General information regarding the background of BEVS 2, the application process and the resources you’ll need to commit to a vaccination project is available.

2. Requirements before you start a badger vaccination project

Before starting a badger vaccination scheme, you must:

• complete vaccination training, depending on which activity you’ll be carrying out
• apply for a licence to vaccinate badgers from Natural England

The Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) is currently the only training provider. You will not be able to get a prescription for BCG vaccine until you are trained and licensed.

You will also need to:

• have agreements in place giving you access to land where you plan to vaccinate (contact the TB team at Defra to see a model land access agreement that has been drafted in consultation with the National Farmers’ Union)
• take out insurance (for example, to indemnify landowners in respect of any aspect of the vaccination project)

It will be your responsibility to make sure volunteers can work on farms safely.

3. What is involved in a badger vaccination project

It’s illegal to trap badgers for the purpose of vaccination between December 1 and April 30, so vaccination must take place between May and November.

3.1 Gathering information about badger activity in your vaccination area

In advance of your scheme commencing you will need to carry out a detailed survey of the area you intend to vaccinate. The survey will identify setts and other signs of badger activity, like runs and latrines. This is usually best done during winter months, when there is less vegetation than in spring or summer.

You will have to conduct another survey immediately before you start vaccinating, to check whether badger activity in the area has changed since the initial survey.

3.2 Pre-baiting traps

You will need to lay traps close to any badger sett in your area that shows signs of badgers currently living in it.

You will need to pre-bait the traps daily for approximately a week before you actually trap badgers. Pre-baiting involves putting bait in your traps while keeping them locked open so animals become used to taking the bait.

During the week of pre-baiting you will need to monitor how much bait is being taken and consider adding a bait enhancer (like maple syrup) if badgers aren’t eating the bait.

3.3 Trapping badgers for vaccination

When you are confident that the traps are being regularly visited by badgers and the bait is being taken, set the traps.

Set the traps in the afternoon or evening to minimise the time badgers will be trapped. Set each trap for at least 2 consecutive nights (if no animals are captured on one or both nights trapping may be extended).

Return to each trap early the next morning (generally within three hours of first light) to check on the animals you have caught. Badgers are a protected species, and you are responsible for the welfare of any animals you trap. On the way to checking the traps, collect some BCG vaccine, which you need to store in a fridge. Use a portable fridge to transport it to the traps.

Carefully record how you use the vaccine during your project, and return any that is unused.

Vaccination will require at least 2 people for each trap. Depending on the size of your trapping operation, you may require several teams of 2 people to make sure you can check all your traps early in the morning.

Plan your trap rounds to make sure that there are not too many trapped badgers to deal with on any given morning.

3.4 Releasing animals

You will need to release badgers after vaccinating them unless they appear ill or injured, in which case you will need to seek veterinary assistance.

3.5 After vaccination

You will have to remove all trace of your activity from the land once you have finished vaccinating including your equipment.

You will need to thoroughly clean and disinfect equipment between uses.

4. Equipment you will need

For trapping you are likely to need:

• traps
• spare trigger bars and flaps
• holding cages
• carrying handles for the cages
• 6-pronged restraining wickets to hold badgers in the traps
• karabiners to secure the end of a holding cage in case the badger has to be removed from site to be seen by a vet
• curved scissors to remove hair in order to mark badgers which have been vaccinated
• stock marker spray to additionally mark badgers which have been vaccinated
• bait (generally animal grade peanuts)
• a non-meat bait enhancer (like golden syrup, maple syrup, molasses)
• containers to carry bait and bait enhancer

To store and administer vaccine you are likely to need:

• a fridge that can maintain a temperature between 2°C and 8°C
• a portable fridge with mains and car power cables
• a thermometer to check temperature
• Leur Lok syringes
• needles
• a Peli case or similar secure container to transport reconstituted vaccine to the sett
• a locally approved sharps disposal bin for disposal of used vaccine vials/ampoules and needles

5. Reporting requirements

Recipients of BEVS 2 funding must comply with monitoring and reporting requirements set out in the grant agreement. You will need to submit an annual report covering the previous calendar year, reflecting on the effect of the activities initiated by the grant funding, no later than 1 April each year.

You also need to complete a VF3 vaccination licence return form whenever you set traps to vaccinate badgers.

You will need to keep other records during a vaccination project to meet the legal requirements of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations. The forms listed below are available to help you fulfil legal requirements for data recording. They are available to BEVS 2 grant recipients on request from APHA:

• VF1 - sett survey form
• VF2 - sett check form, describing details of the sett targeted and the traps used
• VF4 - badger carcass submission form
• VF5 – BCG order form
• VF6 – BCG vaccine/diluent tracking form
• VF7 - BCG vaccine/diluent disposal form
• VF8 - refrigerator temperature record chart
• VF9 - portable refrigerator temperature record chart

However, unlike the VF3 form (which is compulsory) lay vaccinators are free to record this information in other ways.

You will also need to keep a copy of the prescription for vaccine that you obtained from a vet.

These forms must be made available for inspection on request. They will be audited and should normally be kept for 5 years.