A NEWLY formed group of volunteers aims to safeguard badgers and their Pembrokeshire habitats, aiming to dispel myths around bovine TB and improve protections.

Formed in September, Pembrokeshire Badger Group is a newly formed group of volunteers working to protect badgers and raise awareness of the threats they face in south west Wales.

Despite being protected by law, badgers continue to be the most heavily persecuted wild animal in the UK, facing baiting, snaring, sett destruction, and road traffic collisions.

The group is affiliated with the Badger Trust, the national network of affiliated volunteer-led badger groups across England and Wales. It has hit the ground running, dealing with reports about injured badgers and facing harsh scrutiny from those who wrongly blame badgers for bovine Tuberculosis.

Pembrokeshire Badger Group says badgers continue to be wrongly blamed for the persistent tragedy of bovine Tuberculosis affecting cattle farming in the county. The group aims to use accurate scientific knowledge and facts to disentangle badgers and bTB and to find ways to work against entrenched beliefs, providing training and education for volunteers, and events and activities that aim to protect badgers and their habitats.

By linking with other wildlife experts and organisations, the group plans to establish a rescue and rehabilitation centre in Pembrokeshire and to ensure stronger protections for Welsh badgers via lobbying for the 2026 Senedd elections.

“There’s a lot to do, but with growing support, we’re determined to make a real difference in protection for badgers,” said a spokesperson for Pembrokeshire Badger Group. “To follow us and to join the group, please visit our social media pages.”

The group can be found on Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574158753029; Instagram: instagram.com/pembrokeshirebadgergroup; X: @PembsBadgers; TikTok: PembrokeshireBadgerGroup and BlueSky: Pembsbadgers.bsky.social. Email [email protected] or visit pembrokeshirebadgers.wixsite.com .