PICTURES: Scottish SPCA cares for five badger cubs including smallest badger since Inverness' Lavender was found on Valentine's day
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The Scottish SPCA is currently caring for five adorable badger cubs at its National Wildlife Rescue Centre including the smallest badger cub ever to be admitted.
Scotland’s animal welfare charity has taken in four more cubs since its youngest ever badger, Lavender, arrived at only two weeks old after being found in woodland near Inverness on Valentine’s day.
The baby badgers are being hand-reared by wildlife assistants, April Sorley, Carys Young and Juanita Zaldua. When they are 12 weeks old, they will be weaned and will move on to solid foods. They will stay with the Scottish SPCA until the Autumn when all of the badgers will be released together.
Each year, the wildlife hospital names its animals based on a theme. The badgers are being named after Roald Dahl characters.
Ms Sorley said: “Lavender was the youngest badger cub to arrive with us so she needed around-the-clock care. She’s now five weeks old and went from 250g to an amazing 1.6kg! Her eyes are now open and she’s just finding her feet.
“Three cubs came to us around 10 March from the Falkirk area after they were found unearthed. They were around Lavender’s age so she’s been delighted to have some friends to play with. The cubs have been named Violet, Peach and Bean.
“Only days later, we were called out to a hay bale in Aberdeen where a badger mum had been scared off and had left her three cubs behind. With our help she was reunited with two but one was abandoned so she came to us.
“Her name is Pelly and she is even smaller than Lavender was when she arrived. She weighed only 72 grams! So she has now claimed the crown of smallest ever badger.
“Carys Young, animal care assistant, has been rearing little Pelly and she is gaining lots of weight which is a great sign. Juanita is caring for Peach and Violet and I’m badger mum to Lavender and Bean.
“They will all be hand-reared until they are 12 weeks old as that is when they would be weaned if they were with their mum in the wild.
“We’re so pleased the five of them will be growing up in a family group. It’s so important for their rehabilitation and socialisation and integrating back in to the wild.”
If a member of the public finds a wild animal in need of help then they should contact the Scottish SPCA’s animal helpline on 03000 999 999.
Read more about Lavender here.
