“I have no doubt had I not seized this badger it would have died,” said Lincolnshire Police Detective Constable Aaron Flint
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NEED TO KNOW
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Police in the U.K. warned residents not to take in wild badgers, even if they appear injured; because it could be detrimental to the animals’ health
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This comes after a badger cub, nicknamed “Mr Baldie,” was rescued from a home in poor condition after being fed canned food
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Badgers are a protected species in the U.K. and should only be handled by trained professionals, authorities said
Badgers may look cute, but they aren’t ideal pets.
That’s the message from the Lincolnshire Police, which recently issued a warning to U.K. residents urging them not to take in wild animals, even if they are injured, as this could endanger the animals, according to the BBC.
Police shared the warning after officers recently seized a badger cub from a family home, where it was “living in squalid conditions,” according to the outlet.
Detective Constable Aaron Flint told the outlet that the cub, identified as male, was found “in really awful condition,” having lost a lot of fur. Officers noted that the badger was found this way after being fed canned food at the home.
“When I went and took him, he got himself into the sleeve of a dirty-looking fleece. I have no doubt had I not seized this badger it would have died,” Flint told the outlet.
PEOPLE has reached out to the Lincolnshire Police for comment.
The animal has since been transferred to the Lincolnshire Badger Group for care, and has even picked up a nickname: “Mr Baldie,” according to the BBC.
Shortly after the rescue, the Lincolnshire Police Rural Crime Action Team (LPRCAT) posted a warning on social media about badgers. They noted that the creature has “a very good bite” and people should “not attempt to pick up an injured badger.”
“If you find young wildlife LEAVE IT ALONE, monitor from a distance and do not touch unless it is in danger. Seek advice,” the LPRCAT said in its post.
“Taking any youngster away from a parent that may have left it to go off to feed may well kill it. Removing any wildlife from its home is the very last option that should be used,” the agency added.
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According to LPRCAT, badgers are a protected species under U.K. law, and should be handled with care.
“There are lots of animal rescues out there [where people] think they’re doing the right thing,” Flint told the BBC. “They think they’ve got the right experience to handle and deal with these animals, and they haven’t.”
“So I would say to the public, do your research and make sure you take it to a fully trained and qualified person,” he added.
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