The badger has now been released back into the wild
A female badger had to be saved after she was trapped in a basement flat in Stockport. The RSPCA was called after the adorable mammal was spotted by a member of the public on Wednesday, March 12.
The distressed badger was stuck after she fell down a lightwell and into the basement. RSPCA Inspector Alex Ashton attended the scene on Reddish Road and was able to free her then take her to specialists where she was treated for her injuries.
Alex said: “The badger had fallen down a lightwell of a basement and couldn’t get back out. Fortunately, I was able to get into the basement and contain her.
“After a quick check over, it soon became clear that she also had some infected injuries and I wasn’t sure if this was as a result of her fall or if she’d been injured beforehand. I took her to the RSPCA’s wildlife specialists at RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Cheshire where her injuries were treated and she was given antibiotics.”
Fortunately, it turned into a happy ending for the badger – and the RSPCA worked with a local Badger Group to return her to the wild.
Alex added: “She was kept at the centre for just under a week before we were able to release her back into the wild on 17th March alongside the Badger Group.
“It’s always the best part of the job knowing that an animal you’ve rescued has been cared for, rehabilitated and successfully released. It was a great feeling to watch this badger scurry off into the woods.”
Although badgers are found across the UK, they are legally protected due to historic persecution through badger baiting and illegal killing, which sadly continues today. The mammals are great at digging, with muscular limbs and strong non-retractable claws.
They’re mostly nocturnal but cubs can sometimes be seen foraging during daylight during the summer if food is scarce. Badgers mainly eat earthworms but they’ll also take other invertebrates, rodents, rabbits, cereals, fruits and bulbs.
The animal welfare agency has provided guidance on how the public can help badgers by giving them small amounts of food during dry summers or long periods of cold weather, such as tinned cereal-based dog food, lightly cooked meat, cheese, unsalted peanuts and seasonal fruits.
Anyone feeding wildlife will need to make sure they only feed a small amount so they don’t become dependent on non-natural food supplies.
For more information about badgers can be found here. To help the RSPCA continue to rescue animals in need visit here.
If you see an injured badger in need of help, please call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.