Badger Alert

The above image demonstrates the damage that badgers can wreak to sweet corn in just a single night. Alarmingly this is not the only incident over recent days where our stripy four legged friends have run amok and several allotments have suffered severe damage as a consequence. Raspberries and other produce are sometimes targeted, even to the extreme where this year on occasion there is evidence that Badgers have taken potatoes (which is unusual).

There is seemingly little that can be done. Previous attempts with the council and DEFRA have proved fruitless, and it must be totally disheartening for those that find the effort of their hard toil destroyed, and a complete waste of good food.

What else could be done. Whilst involving time and effort, putting boundary wire fencing all around the sweet corn (which seems to be the target of choice) may assist, but even then the badger could dig under or try and lift (it has powerful jaws), and whilst this involves some considerable effortthe deterrent may be worth it.

This post is really to highlight the issue for all, especially those cultivating sweet corn or other badger friendly type produce, and it may be worth taking some steps to at least make it difficult for the animal to do its worst rather than just accepting the consequence.