“I was really surprised …”
On Valentine’s Day, Charlotte came back home to the UK after being away for a few days and was shocked to find her house in a complete mess. Someone had broken in, leaving the kitchen in disarray with cupboards thrown open, food scattered on the floor, and the oven door wide open.
Astounded by the chaos, Charlotte captured a video of her disheveled residence.
“It’s as if we’ve been hit by a storm,” Charlotte remarks in the video. “This senseless destruction is beyond belief.”
Eventually, Charlotte peered under her bed and discovered the culprit. Concealed beneath the bed frame was a lost badger. It transpired that the badger had accidentally stumbled over Charlotte’s garden wall. Unable to find its way out, the apprehensive badger gnawed through Charlotte’s back door and inadvertently wandered through the house, unwittingly causing quite a commotion.
Charlotte attempted to contact the RSPCA, but they were closed. After some effort, she managed to reach out to the Badger Trust Isle of Wight.
Volunteer rescuer Graham Lee had barely begun a romantic dinner with his partner when he received the urgent call. Despite the interruption, he swiftly left, determined to assist Charlotte and ensure the badger’s well-being.
Upon his arrival, Lee was taken aback by the scene before him.
“I was truly surprised by the extent of the damage,” Lee remarked. “Badgers certainly pack quite a punch!”
Charlotte led Lee into the bedroom, where the badger had taken shelter. Lee cautiously surveyed the scene.
“The bedroom was a mess,” Lee observed. “Wardrobe doors were open, bed sheets were on the floor, and the window frame was chewed. There was even broken glass and soot from the chimney. Underneath the bed, the badger was sleeping in an overturned bin.”
Using a rescue cage and a grasper pole, Lee gently removed the badger from its hiding place under the bed.
“She put up a bit of a struggle, as expected,” Lee recounted. “Using the grasper pole and carefully guiding her with my other hand, I managed to lift her into the cage. Despite her initial reluctance, she appeared unharmed and ready to be on her way.”
With the assistance of a helpful neighbor, Lee transported the badger to a designated release spot outdoors. After ensuring she was in good health, Lee allowed her some time to orient herself before opening the cage door.
“And off she went into the darkness, as if she had no worries in the world!” Lee shared with a smile. “Knowing that badgers are frequent visitors in the area, I’m certain she knew her way home. I can only imagine the tales she’ll have to share with her family about her unexpected adventure.”