Re: Killing badgers

John Beardmore <wookie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> In message <890eq1hj5c85mt77q6v1istf3df4p00jpd@xxxxxxx>, David Hansen
> <SENDdavidNOhSPAM@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes
> >On Mon, 19 Dec 2005 18:03:36 +0000 someone who may be John Beardmore
> ><wookie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote this:-
>
> >>Not more than simple sentiment.
> >
> >Correct, but previous offences should be taken into consideration.
> >
> >>I was just trying to see
> >>if the sentimental sounding appeal had any basis in research.
> >
> >I assume that the research is available should you wish to read it.
>
> I'll start with Pams post, but it may be Christmas day before I get a
> chance to read it ! Bit hectic at the moment !

If you really are interested I could try to dig up some summaries of
papers presented at a Mammal Society conference some years ago, when
Steve Harris and others became quite heated about the topic. The gist
was that it's possible that a lot of cattle-cattle transmission occurs,
but it hadn't been properly studied. Last I heard the the cattle TB
tests had technical flaws, too. Then there's the way that badgers (not
unreasonably) react to culls or attempted extermination by scattering,
and the fact that other wildlife (ie deer, hedgehogs) has been shown to
carry TB although I'm not certain transmission to cattle has been
demonstrated. I'd say it was a real can of worms if there weren't so
many other animals in there already :-/

regards
sarah


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