A couple of coverts were sprayed with citronella pre meet and a badger sett was checked prior to the hunt meet. It was found to be freshly blocked with fresh spade marks. They do this to stop foxes escaping down them. The NCH have a long history of extensive sett blocking which was curbed by Gloucestershire Police and an expose of the practice in this area by the national press 3 years ago. We saw some improvement with the NCH but now they are up to there old tricks again. We used to often find 5 or more setts blocked by them every time they went hunting which is 4 times a week at the moment and all within areas where badgers are being actively culled!
As this is Gloucestershire zone 9 in the North Cotswolds they have been killing since 1st June in the 6th year of culling. Setts in all nearby zones are checked all year round because the persecution extends way beyond the cull but more people are needed on the ground. We heard that someone living nearer to the meet had found a drain blocked with a boulder as well. It is a really good way to help hunted animals by checking burrows and holes to see if they are blocked when the hunt is near by. If pre hunt then a fox can escape down a drain or big enough hole. If post hunt then you may save the life of a badger, fox, rabbit or other trapped animal who might not be able to dig their way back out.
The morning was warm and there was little scent. They drew blank at Slingate Brake where the hunt followers surrounded the small wood in classic holding up formation. They then went along some hedges to Mocho with the second whipper in saddle slapping vigorously to stop any cub leaving covert. Holding up and saddle slapping are clear signs of illegal cub hunting in that the point is to make it easy for the hounds being entered into the pack to hunt and kill the “weaker” cubs. Leaving adults and bolder cubs to learn to run from hounds.
As it grew hotter there was some hunting near the railway where they have been filmed many times.
If anyone has meets for the NCH these are very helpful even if it is the day afterwards because we can check to see if they have blocked badger setts.
