Protesters who want to stop the badger cull are stationing themselves around the countryside and forming “wounded badger patrols” as rumours swirl that the culls are about to begin.
Campaigners said they are on “amber alert” to try and prevent badger culls, which they believe are imminent.
Direct action campaign group Stop the Cull said they had found hair DNA traps across Somerset and Gloucestershire, which indicated the pilot culls could start within the next few days. Police arrested one protester on suspicion of “aggravated trespass” earlier on Monday.
In a statement, the protest group said: “The badgers only have one last line of defence between themselves and the gunmen. You.”
However, the department of environment, food and rural affairs (DEFRA) could not confirm when the culls may begin, saying instead that the authorised cull companies would make the decision on timings. The department also would not give out the name of the cull companies, and neither would Natural England or the National Farmers’ Union, all of whom cited “security” as the reason for holding back.
At the same time, DEFRA said the media would probably only be told about culls once they had already begun.
The badgers only have one last line of defence between themselves and the gunmen. Protest group Stop the Cull
The government says the cull is necessary to stop the spread of bovine tuberculosis, but protesters say the measure is “inhumane” and also question the science behind it.
A DEFRA spokeswoman said: “Bovine TB is spreading across England and devastating our cattle and dairy industries. In TB hot spots such as Gloucestershire and Somerset we need to deal with the infection in badgers if we’re to get a grip on TB there.
“No country has dealt with the disease without tackling infection in both wildlife and cattle. We are working on new cattle and oral badger vaccines but they are years away from being ready and we cannot wait while this terrible disease spreads.”
As well as groups planning direct action to try and stop the culls, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) said it was preparing for what could happen when the culls begin.
A spokeswoman for the RSPCA told Channel 4 News: “We are very much against the cull and we are not going to give up fighting, lobbying parliament and raising the issue. But in some areas what we are very concerned about now is injured badgers.
“How humane are the methods which are being used – such as free shooting? There is a risk of lots of injured badgers and we will be on hand.”
She said staff in the RSPCA’s wildlife centres in Somerset and Gloucestershire were prepared for an influx of injured animals.
“We are not unsympathetic to farmers. TB is a devastating disease. We just don’t think this is the solution,” she said.
No country has dealt with the disease without tackling infection in both wildlife and cattle. DEFRA
Local police sought to reassure the community that whatever happened with the culls and protests, they were prepared – although they too were awaiting more information from the culling companies about when anything was actually going to happen.
“Gloucestershire Constabulary has been planning its response to the cull since it was first announced. This response – Operation Themis – is aimed at keeping all our communities safe and feeling safe, dealing with any with any incidents of crime and public disorder and facilitating people’s rights to protest. Our role will to be operationally independent, impartial, even-handed and fair to everyone whatever their views, interest or involvement in the pilot scheme,” Gloucestershire Police said.
“Our operation is not yet activated. However, due to recent media and social media speculation, there has been some concern in local communities. As a result, we will be deploying a proportionate policing response in Gloucestershire over the Bank Holiday weekend to provide reassurance to those communities and minimise any potential disruption to their lives. This is in keeping with our commitment to deliver an effective local policing service before, during and after the proposed cull.”