Disturbance to badger sett: Aboyne
(AB34 - Tuesday, 18 May, 2010)

Grampian Police is making enquiries into a possible disturbance to a badger sett in the Aboyne area.

Wildlife crime officer PC Donald MacLeod said:

"It appears that part of the sett has been delibrately dug up some time in the last few weeks.

"This illegal activity is normally associated with people involved in badger baiting, which can involve encouraging terriers into a sett to hound out a badger.

"The sett is then dug from above at the point where the terrier faces off the badger.

"This illegal practice results in the badger being killed at the sett or taken away where it is made to fight dogs.

"Badger baiting is actually not a particularly common occurrence in the north east, although it is known to still be carried out in other parts of Scotland.

"Badger persecution is a UK wildlife crime priority and something that Grampian Police will not tolerate."

Anyone with any knowledge or information on badger persecution is asked to contact either PC Donald Macleod at the Ballater Police Office or PC David MacKinnon at the Stonehaven Police Office on 0845 600 5 700.

Alternatively call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Aboyne
Aberdeenshire
AB34