A young badger was left hanging by his neck after being caught in an illegal snare.

Alexis Fleming, who runs the Maggie Fleming Animal Hospice in Kirkcudbright, was called to the scene in Dumfries and Galloway after a member of the public spotted the cub in distress.

 

Alexis discovered the wire wrapped tightly around the animal’s neck and body. She stated "He was hanging by his neck from a wooden gate, half-covered in mud, frantically clawing and chewing at the fence, and it was obvious he'd been there for at least a day, possibly more".

The charity worker managed to cut the snare from the gate and transport the badger to Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Centre in Beith, North Ayrshire.

Gay Christie from Hessilhead stated "The badger arrived at Hessilhead with the snare still around his neck. It took quite a while to remove this, though the badger was very co-operative though not sedated.

"As we expected a few days later the skin broke down, leaving a nasty wound.

"The badger is still in the hospital at Hessilhead. He eats well and often looks very relaxed stretched out on his back. It will take several weeks for the wound to heal. Meanwhile the badger is on antibiotics and pain relief".

Type of snare

Illegal

Where

Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway

When

November 2022