AN ANIMAL protection group has condemned the use of snares after a badger had to be rescued.

Judy Massie, section leader of the North East Essex Badger Group, received an emergency call from a dog walker whose border collie, Brodie, had sniffed out the badger near Motts Lane in Marks Tey.

The metal wire was wrapped around its body and attached to a stake in the ground holding the badger captive.

He was released from the stake unharmed, with the help of Eddy Edwards, 64, and taken to Colne Valley Vets, where the snare was removed.

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

Eddy, who has visited this stretch of countryside for 20 years, said: “I was sickened because there was nothing I could do and it looked so sad.

“It’s disgusting someone could put out a snare because it must’ve been awfully painful around its chest.

“It wasn’t nice to see.

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

“Usually when we arrive Brodie would run straight through, but he stood there looking at something.

“At first I thought it was dead but I went closer and could see it was breathing. I didn’t know it was harmed, so I carried on.

“It wasn’t until I came back down the other side and saw the front of the badger, I realised it was attached to a wire.

“I went home and called the Badger Group and was amazed by the speed Judy responded.

“Within less than an hour she’d dropped her own dog home and came to meet me.”

Mrs Massie added: “Snaring, in respect of any animal is a very cruel form of ‘pest’ control.

“Animals can suffer greatly, especially if caught around the neck because the snare will tighten and the animal ends up strangling itself in its bid for freedom. It’s indiscriminate, you can catch any animal, including dogs and we’ve seen some nasty wounds.

"This badger was lucky, a lot of them aren’t, so we ask the public to be vigilant when out walking and report sightings of snares, with or without occupants.”

The North East Essex Badger Group has an 24/7 emergency hotline run by volunteers for injured or sick badgers. They are also available to take dead badgers off the road.

To contact the hotline, call 07751 572175.