Rescued Badger Cub Makes A Full Recovery

3 June 2011, 13:21 | Updated: 3 June 2011, 13:23

A sick badger cub makes a full recovery after being found alone in a garden in Weymouth - the cub was one of 24 rescued this year.

The cub went to the RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre where he recieved one to one care.

The cub was collected by RSPCA animal welfare officer Dudley Clements from Weymouth in late April. He was found alone in a back garden and was crying out. At first they thought he had an injured leg, but they later found out he was just very underweight and poorly.

He was thought to be aged between six and eight weeks old.

Following several days of hand-rearing round the clock care, the badger began to respond. After more than a month in RSPCA care he has been introduced into a group of other badger cubs and will be ready for release in August.

Wildlife centre manager, Peter Venn, said:

"This was a very small and sick badger which had obviously been a late birth.

"We weren't sure whether he would pull through at first but once he began to feed and his blood test results were clear we mixed him with other badgers and he is making a great recovery.

"Our usual advice to the public is if you see a lone baby animal, unless it is obviously injured like this cub, just monitor the situation from afar; the likelihood is that it does not need rescuing."

However, anyone concerned about a sick or injured animal can call the RSPCA 24-hour cruelty line on 0300 1234 999.