The badger was caught in a snare which had been set in a fence and hedgerow next to Tilbrook Road.
The animal had been spotted by a local dog walker who contacted the RSPCA and reported it as 'poorly'. The dog walker also contacted the Bedfordshire Badger Group as he didn't have the facilities to release the animal himself.
One of the BBG team arrived at the scene and found the badger - a juvenile male - to be caught in the snare, covered in mud, in a deep puddle in the field. The animal was still alive but in poor condition.
After gaining permission to access the field from the landowner, the BBG team member discovered that the snare was tied to the fence on the field side and was pulling tight on the badger's neck. He stated:
"The snare was difficult to release and remained tight on [the badger's] neck.
"The snare was kinked and beginning to rust in places."
The badger passed away shortly after he was released.
The incident was reported to the police and the landowner denied any knowledge of the snare. There was no evidence of when or who set the snare so the case was closed.
Type of snare
Illegal
Where
Tilbrook, Cambridgeshire
When
February 2021
Photographic evidence
