THE KILLING of badgers in attempts to control the spreading of Bovine TB is set to return to Somerset.
Letters published today (August 30), give authorization for a new cull to begin 2017 in Somerset and Gloucestershire.
Natural England confirmed that all criteria have been met to allow two new "supplementary badger control" licences to be issued to companies in the two counties.
Operations in these areas will be carried out under 5-year licences which allow culling to take place every year between June 1 and January 31.
Licences only permit badger control to take place outside of the close seasons:
- controlled shooting – February 1 to May 31
- cage-trapping and shooting – December 1 to May 31
- cage-trapping and vaccination – December 1 to April 30
According to Natural England, the 'minimum' number of badgers to take or kill for those who are licenced is 140, and the maximum number is 610.
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