A decision over badger culling  should be delayed to review the outcome of the floods on badger numbers, a charity has said.

Cubs have drowned and setts been flooded out, charity says

Badgers could be falling victim to severe flooding in the south and west of England, a charity has warned.

Humane Society International/UK  (HSI/UK) said setts have been damaged or flooded out, clans disrupted and cubs drowned.

Mark Jones, veterinary surgeon and HSI/UK Executive Director, said: “The fate of our beleaguered badgers in this flooding is of real concern, especially in Somerset and Gloucestershire where these animals have already endured weeks of shooting under the government’s culling policy.

"Some setts will almost certainly have been damaged or flooded out completely, meaning that whole badger families could be disturbed. There will be cubs in those setts right now and it’s possible that some cubs will have drowned too.

"This could have significant impacts on badger populations later in the year. In the light of such dire weather impacts, we urge DEFRA to delay making any badger cull roll-out decision and to commission a thorough impact assessment. Our poor badgers have been through enough.”

The Independent Expert Panel report on the effectiveness and humaneness of the pilot culls, is expected to be published soon.

At the same time, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson is due to announce a decision on whether culling will be extended to a greater number of areas.