On a recent morning just outside London, a strange sight caught the attention of several South Essex city workers. Something furry lay at the bottom of a skate park bowl.
The workers watched a hefty, furry animal struggle to climb out, to no avail. Based on the black-and-white head and gray body, they recognized her as a European badger.
Essex Badger Protection Group
European badgers are mustelids, like weasels and otters. They are a completely different species from North American badgers, who are smaller, with wider faces and brown fur.
European badgers are social animals who live in small groups in vast underground setts, or burrows, that they dig with their strong legs and claws, according to Genuine Mustelids.
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Unfortunately, the badger in the skate park couldn’t get a solid grip on the slippery bowl and had worn herself out trying to escape.
The city workers contacted Essex Badger Protection Group (EBPG) for help.
Essex Badger Protection Group
“When we arrived, the badger was curled up,” Nina Scotland, an experienced rescuer with EBPG, told The Dodo. “It was clearly exhausted from its continued attempts to escape, and would have been cold and dehydrated from its night of misfortune.”
Scotland carefully slid into the skate bowl with some supplies.
Essex Badger Protection Group
As she approached the badger, Scotland made several observations: The badger was tired, but alert, with nowhere to escape. If Scotland couldn’t maneuver the animal into the cage on her first try, her patient probably wouldn’t give her a second chance.
Badgers typically avoid confrontation, but aren’t afraid to defend themselves.
“They are extremely strong animals and can give a very nasty bite,” Darren Parker, vice chair with EBPG, told The Dodo.
In fact, this adorable animal has a bite as powerful as a cougar’s.
“Usually in these circumstances, we would attempt to use a grasper to catch the badger,” Parker said. “However … if Nina failed to grasp the badger on the first attempt, it would very unlikely allow her to get close to it on a second occasion.”
Essex Badger Protection Group
Instead, Scotland covered the badger’s head with a towel and deftly grabbed the animal by her scruff. Instantly, the badger squirmed and managed to bite Scotland’s gloved hand.
Undeterred and dedicated to helping the scared animal, Scotland managed to secure the badger in the cage.
Essex Badger Protection Group
“It all happened very quickly,” Scotland said. “My heart was racing, especially when it started struggling when I lifted it to the cage, but I wasn’t going to let it go.”
The city workers helped the pair out of the skate bowl.
Essex Badger Protection Group
At the South Essex Wildlife Hospital, vets were relieved to find the badger had no major injuries, just minor bruising. After some fluids, pain meds and a good night’s sleep, the badger was released the following day.
Essex Badger Protection Group
Scotland, whose gloves saved her hand from any serious bite wound, never tires of helping wildlife.
“It’s always the best feeling to see them released back home,” Scotland said. “Hopefully, she has learnt her lesson and her skating days are in the past.”
If you would like to support Essex Badger Protection Group’s work, you can donate via their website. 
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