On the 19th July 2011 Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman announced that the government would carry out two pilot badger culls in the areas shows below, as part of the government’s bovine TB eradication programme.
Caroline Spelman’s announcement of the proposed pilot badger cull.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Landowners who wish to cull badgers need to apply for a licence from Natural England.
The trials will assess the humaneness, efficacy and safety of the free shooting of badgers.
Groups of qualified landowners will be able to shoot badgers at night with a high velocity rifle under licence.
70% of the badgers in any trial area must be slaughtered.
Each trial area must be at least 150 square kilometres in size.
A map of the two areas selected by the government in which landowners can currently apply for licences to kill badgers is shown below.