What You Can Do to Protect Badgers

Humane Society International


  • Act now to help protect our badgers. Mike Lane/Alamy

Speak out against the badger cull

The annual culling of badgers began in areas of Gloucestershire and Somerset in 2013 with contractors shooting badgers under a four year licence issued by Natural England. An additional licence was issued for an area of Dorset in 2015.

In February 2016, the government announced it was considering 29 new applications for badger culling licences, covering nine counties of England: Cheshire, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Somerset, Wiltshire and Worcestershire.

In August 2016, the government confirmed it had issued seven new licences for culling, in addition to the three existing licences, bringing the total number of cull zones to ten, in six counties of England. More than 10,000 badgers will be targetted this year. The shooting began in all ten zones in September 2016. 

Take action for badgers

Big Badger Mosaic
Be part of the public face of opposition to the cull – upload your selfie to the #BigBadgerMosaic today!

Sign the petition
Wildlife expert and tv presenter, Simon King, has launched a new government e-petition calling for an end to the badger cull and no expansion of the cull to new areas. Sign the petition today

Support Wounded Badger Patrols cull zones

These volunteer groups campaign against the cull and organise patrols day and night during the culls, walking footpaths and roads on the look out for injured badgers. Show your support and get involved!

Cornwall: Devon Badger Group: facebook
Devon: Devon Badger Group: facebook
Dorset: Dorset for Badger and Bovine Welfare (DBBW): website and facebook
Gloucestershire: Gloucestershire Against Badger Shooting (GABS): website and facebook
Herefordshire: Gloucestershire Against Badger Shooting (GABS): website and facebook
Somerset: Somerset Against the Cull: facebook

Watch & share our campaign videos

Find out more

View and share

Spread the word

Learn More Button Inserter