Badger Post Mortem Report
This badger aged 3 years found dead in West Sussex.
External Findings:
The badger was in reasonable body condition. It weighed 9.75kg and measured 32 inches nose to tail. I estimated it had been dead for approximately 48 hours
A snare was present around the neck just behind the ears. This had tightened to an approximate diameter of 2 inches. It was only possible to release the snare by cutting it with orthopaedic wire cutters. The snare had caused extensive localised contusions around the neck but had not broken the skin.
There was a large scar visible around the thorax just caudal to the forelimbs. This was most prominant on the ventral aspect of the body but also extended clearly onto the dorsal aspect. There was also an obvious depression in the sternebrae at the level of the ribs 2/3 together with a bony callous approximately one inch in diameter. These injuries were consistant with a previous snare injury which had resulted either in soft tissue damage and bone infection or a fracture of the sternebrae.
Internal Findings:
There was a depressed bony callous associated with sternebrae 2/3 together with extensive scar tissue formation corresponding to the external scarring on the thorax.
There was marked contusion of the upper trachea at the level of the larynx. The larynx was extensively contused. The head exhibited a marked tissue odema.
All organs were normal except the lungs which showed petechial haemorrages apparent on all lobes, but especially the cranial lobes.
Differential Diagnosis:
The cause of death was probably asphyxiation caused by the snare which was present. Judging by the way the snare had been severely kinked, this badger had been thrashing around for some time before finally dying. I believe that this animal underwent a considerable degree of suffering.
The old injury, while being severe, would not have contributed to the cause of death. I estimate that this injury was approximately 8 to 12 months old. I am unsure how this badger managed to escape from the original snare. Again though, such an injury would have caused this animal to undergo a considerable degree of suffering.
Richard Edwards MSc MA VetMB MRCVS
Posted: 12.08.2002
