Rescued badger Harriet: Scientist fights to keep beloved animal

A rescued badger who enjoys garden strolls and tea-time company has become the centre of a bitter licensing battle, with her rescuer fearing for her future.

A loveable badger who enjoys garden strolls, rummages through shopping bags and has even been known to nibble people's legs is at the centre of a desperate battle to stay with her rescuer.

Home comforts: Harriet has become accustomed to life at Graeme's Scottish Borders rescue centre and regularly follows him around. | Katielee Arrowsmith / SWNS

placeholder image — Home comforts: Harriet has become accustomed to life at Graeme's Scottish Borders rescue centre and regularly follows him around. | Katielee Arrowsmith / SWNS

Ecologist Graeme Wilson, 55, fears for the future of Harriet after NatureScot refused permission for him to keep the animal at his Scottish Borders home.

Fight for Harriet: Ecologist Graeme Wilson is hoping NatureScot will reconsider its decision to refuse him an educational licence. | Katielee Arrowsmith / SWNS

Graeme rescued the starving, filthy cub after she was discovered in a cattle trough, just 100 metres from her sett. He nursed her back to health at his GW Ecology rescue and rehabilitation centre in Denholm, naming her Harriet.

But he believes she had previously been hand-reared and is now too accustomed to humans to survive safely in the wild. Despite deliberately keeping his distance while feeding her, Harriet quickly took to a bottle – something Graeme believes she had experienced before. He made several attempts to return her to the wild, but one ended with the determined badger running straight back to her crate. Graeme said: "She ran back and stood by the crate as if to say 'take me home'."

Now Harriet enjoys exploring the garden while Graeme works, disappearing into watering cans and bags to investigate their contents. She even nibbles people's legs, apparently attempting to pick off fleas as she would when living among her own clan.

Ecologist Graeme Wilson, 55, was called to rescue the ''thin and dirty'' cub after she was discovered starving in a cattle trough. | Katielee Arrowsmith / SWNS

Graeme applied for an educational licence in June, hoping to take Harriet to events or make conservation videos explaining the dangers facing young badgers. But his application was rejected in September, leaving him searching for a licensed zoo willing to take her.

He fears Harriet would become distressed behind barriers if she saw visitors as people she wanted to approach. After weeks worrying police might remove her, Graeme says he feels legally pressured to release her, despite serious concerns she could end up on a road or approach strangers. He said: "I did not want to have a badger or responsibility for a badger, but unfortunately this is what has happened. My only concern is for Harriet's welfare."

NatureScot said it was continuing discussions with Graeme and other organisations to find a "pragmatic solution", adding that Harriet's welfare remained key.

Meanwhile, a petition calling for him to be allowed to keep her has attracted hundreds of signatures. Graeme is still hoping officials will change their minds.