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East Kennett Long Barrow

So much b*dger activity.

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moss M
moss Jul 23, 2013 08:02:41
Replying to harestonesdown

harestonesdown wrote:
I braved 15-20m through the nettles (in shorts) and counted 7 badger entrances/exits.
Is it beyond EH's funds to stick a drain camera down one or two of them to assess the damage ? And maybe gain a little knowledge ?

I know it's the last "virgin" LB in the area, so shouldn't we be monitoring it better ?

A very subjective question ;) Of course I am not in favour of killing the badgers, they are under enough strain as it is atm. Always argued that you should leave EK and its badgers the home they have always had over the generations. Maybe they have shuffled a few bones around, created a few holes here and there but so will a full scale excavation, so a monitoring camera might be useful.
They moved some badgers out of a barrow on Salisbury Plain, because of the damage, maybe that is the way to go but it will be a miserable day for the badgers ....

Edit: or did they move the badgers? Natural England monitored the situation of the dig here...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-19147035

H harestonesdown
harestonesdown Jul 23, 2013 09:07:35
Replying to moss

moss wrote:
harestonesdown wrote:
I braved 15-20m through the nettles (in shorts) and counted 7 badger entrances/exits.
Is it beyond EH's funds to stick a drain camera down one or two of them to assess the damage ? And maybe gain a little knowledge ?

I know it's the last "virgin" LB in the area, so shouldn't we be monitoring it better ?

A very subjective question ;) Of course I am not in favour of killing the badgers, they are under enough strain as it is atm. Always argued that you should leave EK and its badgers the home they have always had over the generations. Maybe they have shuffled a few bones around, created a few holes here and there but so will a full scale excavation, so a monitoring camera might be useful.
They moved some badgers out of a barrow on Salisbury Plain, because of the damage, maybe that is the way to go but it will be a miserable day for the badgers ....

Edit: or did they move the badgers? Natural England monitored the situation of the dig here...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-19147035

It's a bit of a toughie for me, as whilst i don't believe the badgers should be there i'm not sure i'd like them turfed out either. I'd also say i'm equally concerned about the tree roots as they have they capacity to cause even more damage.

I wonder if a drain cam could stand up to a badger attack, or if the law would even allow such an inspection.