I Fell For The Lie: Badger Post Mortems

 

 I was told very clearly )in person at a meeting) and later in emails by a pathologist that the Health and Safety Executive forbade post mortem examinations on dead badgers due to "the risk of bovine tuberculosis. If there were any suspicious deaths I was told that if he okayed a PME it would need to be carried out in his back garden in fresh air.

However, I knew that the late Bristol badger expert David Morris did this I had certain nagging questions. For instance official PMEs of culled badgers were carried out in laboratories and not in back gardens around the country. Where was HSE stopping these PMEs?

In 2023 there were two reportedly 'suspicious' fox deaths as well as the death of a cat and two badgers. A local Police Community Service Officer submitted all of the animals for PME. It was found that the foxes, cat and badgers were all victims of cars and definitely not poisoning. The PMEs took place in a laboratory so just what was going on? 

We had lost a number of badgers that seemed suspicious but PMEs were ruled out as was examination of a mysterious blue substance near setts. There seemed to be something very strange going on.

In Wales badgers can undergo post-mortem examinations, and this is part of the All Wales Badger Found Dead study. These examinations help monitor the health of the badger population and are used to collect data on disease prevalence, including bovine tuberculosis (bTB).  So why can people in Wales do this but not England?

In Scotland badgers can undergo post-mortem examinations, particularly when suspected of being killed somehow or when part of scientific research. If a badger is found dead and there is suspicion of foul play, the police should be contacted. Post-mortem examinations are also used in research, such as studies on bovine tuberculosis (bTB) and alleged lamb predation. 

I spoke to people in Wales and Scotland and they all say the same thing and that is that there is no hinderance to badger PMEs.  

According to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons it provides general guidance on post-mortem examinations for all animals, including badgers, focusing on ethical considerations and client consent. While there aren't specific RCVS guidelines solely for badger post-mortems, the general principles apply, emphasizing the need for informed client consent and appropriate facilities. 

So, the question is, once more, what is going on in England?  Until I found the fox deaths report being suppressed with seeming agencies approving of the actions taken, I would have dismissed certain claims as paranoid conspiracy theories.

We can question a lot about official government testing of culled badgers since everyone employed is employed by governmental agencies so they tow the official line.  What happened if there were 100 PMEs on badgers and not a single case of bTB?  What if more badgers were tested under PME and found to be bTB free -say 200? That starts to raise a lot of questions even though we know thatthe 'evidence' of badgers spreading bTB is highly suspect and that where there are not enough badgers to "fill cull quotas" badgers (known through testing to be bTB free and in areas where there have been no case of bTB in cattle) are designated for culling. What if PMEs conducted privately show time and again no bTB? That undermines the whole DEFRA and governmental stance.

A PCSO can submit two badgers for a lab PME but not a badger group?

I have to conclude, because what I was told was very -very- clear and also included in emails, that there was deliberate deception.  I have tried to look at it in many ways over the last year but it all comes down to the pathologist as well as the APHA (Animal Plant Health Agency) telling me lies.Badgers can undergo PME it is just finding a vet with wildlife interests willing to do so and the APHA knows that few private individuals can afford to have PMEs carried out.

In my days I have dealt with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) then the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency (FRCA) and then DEFRA. I have seen the dirty tricks, hiding evidence and much, much more but had assumed, stupidly, that we were in more modern and honest times (I'll kick myself in the ass later).

Anyone know and good and credible veterinary pathologists between Bristol and Bath?