Man Fighting for Custody of Harriet the Badger After Nursing Starving Animal Back to Health

Graeme Wilson with Harriet the badgerCredit: GoFundMe

Scottish ecologist Graeme Wilson is fighting to legally keep a badger named Harriet, whom he found unwell and underweight in a cattle trough around 300 feet away from her sett back in April

He believes the young badger was hand-reared before her rescue and cannot safely return to the wild

NatureScot, the governmental organization responsible for the country’s wildlife, has denied Wilson’s educational licence application

A Scottish man is fighting to legally keep a badger he helped nurse back to health after finding her starving in a cattle trough.

Graeme Wilson, who lives in the Scottish Borders, has been caring for Harriet the badger since April, when he found her in a trough around 300 feet from her sett, according to the BBC.

The ecologist described Harriet, who was a couple of months old when she was found, as “quite underweight” when he came across her. He then took her into care at his small independent rescue rehabilitation service, GW Ecology, he explained in a TikTok video.

Wilson said he took her in and gave her food and a wash but otherwise “did not engage with her at all.” He believes that Harriet was cared for by humans from a very young age instead of her natural parents, and therefore being released into the wild would not be suitable for her.

Harriet the badgerCredit: GoFundMe

Harriet appeared familiar with drinking milk from a bottle when she arrived in Wilson’s care, which has led him to wonder whether she had already been hand-reared by someone, according to a GoFundMe page set up for veterinary care costs and ongoing wildlife rescue missions.

Wilson explained in the TikTok video’s caption that he had applied to NatureScot, the governmental organization responsible for the country’s wildlife, for an educational licence to keep Harriet, but was refused.

“They have informed me that if she cannot be released (she cannot) then I must find a licensed zoo for her to go to,” Wilson wrote.

He said that while he may have found a zoo that will take Harriet, they share the “same concerns,” that she will “not get the companionship she requires.”

“This companionship would normally be fellow badgers but as she has imprinted on humans … humans are the company she craves,” Wilson added in the caption. “I am not happy letting Harriet go to a zoo as I do not think that they can give her what she requires but unless Nature Scot Licensing Team changes their mind about issuing a licence I have no choice.”

Harriet the badgerCredit: GoFundMe

Wilson made multiple attempts to release Harriet at two different sett locations, but she “became extremely distressed,” and seemed like she wanted to return to Wilson, according to the GoFundMe page. The fundraiser stated that Harriet also appeared uncomfortable around other badgers.

NatureScot told the BBC that it was continuing to communicate with Wilson to try to find a “pragmatic solution.”

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“I hope that by sharing Harriet’s story publicly I can either find somewhere that will be 100% suitable for Harriet or urge NatureScot Licensing Team to reconsider as I am prepared to go above and beyond to ensure Harriet has everything she needs in life,” Wilson wrote in the caption of his TikTok video.

“Harriet never asked for any of this — she deserves to live happily,” he added.

Animal welfare charity Scottish SPCA said that any badger cub found outside its sett before its around 12 weeks old is likely in need of help, per the BBC.

The charity advised the public not to try and touch or hold a sick or injured badger until one of its rescue officers arrives to help.

“Badgers can become aggressive if they are in pain or feel threatened; they can give a nasty bite and their sharp claws could cause serious injury, if you try to catch it,” they told the outlet.

“You should also contact us if you find a badger during daylight hours as they may be struggling,” the charity continued.

NatureScot and Wilson did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for comment.

Source: Nature