By Charles Heslett
THE spectre of badger baiting is once again hanging over Leeds after one of the wild animals was found mortally wounded in a field by a shocked member of the public.
The woman, who does not want to be named, was woken in the early hours by the sound of revving car engines and loud voices coming from a field close to her home in Hungate Lane, Methley, just off the M62.
She called the police but the baiting gang had fled by the time officers arrived just minutes later.
To her horror later the same morning she walked into the field and found the black and white furred creature, believed to be an adult female, covered in puncture wounds and clinging to life.
RSPCA animal collection officer (ACO) Mark Douglas, who was called to the scene, said: "The badger was bleeding heavily and was collapsed.
"Underneath its inside leg it had a massive six-inch gash along its stomach and puncture wounds on its legs and around its face. You could tell dogs had done it, probably Patterdale Terriers or Jack Russells which the baiters tend to use to search the badgers out before setting three or four of them on the animal.
"You could see the tyre-tracks left when the gang drove off. The badger had managed to drag herself about 200 yards from where the lady saw the lights coming from.
Protected
"The kindest thing left for me to do was to put the badger to sleep to end its suffering."
Badgers are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, which makes it an offence to kill or injure a badger, except under licence.
Anyone convicted of killing, injuring, causing cruelty to a badger or interfering with a badger sett, could face up to six months in prison or a £5,000 fine.
ACO Douglas said: "I would guess the gang dug the badger out somewhere else, possibly from a sett in the nearby Moss Carr Woods, and then transported her to the fields either to be dumped, or so the dogs could be set on it."
He fears the attack, which happened around 2.45am on Monday, February 20, is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to badger baiting.
The RSPCA officer added: "It's such an underground activity. It still goes on but often we only get to find out about it through tip-offs from the public.
"Badger baiting is a criminal offence but we wouldn't advise anybody to approach these people because they're a vicious lot. They should contact their local police station and then ourselves."
Anyone with information should contact the RSPCA in confidence on 08705 555999 or contact the police on 0845 6060606.