The Wildlife Trusts believe that cattle measures should be at the centre of efforts to tackle bovine tuberculosis (TB), alongside a strategic programme of badger vaccination.
In the longer term cattle vaccination will have a vital role to play but it is not yet available. However, a vaccine for badgers is available now and has the potential to help reduce bTB without the negative impacts of perturbation arising from a badger cull. A number of Wildlife Trusts are carrying out badger vaccination programmes and they need your support. Each dose of badger vaccine costs £5; every trap £100. Staff time to carry out the baiting of traps and injections is also a significant cost.
Vaccination of badgers could help to reduce the spread of bovine TB. Recent studies have shown that vaccinating more than a third of adult badgers in a social group can reduce the risk to unvaccinated cubs by 79%.
Follow the links below to find out more about our badger vaccination programmes and make a donation. More on badgers and bTB