Burnham-On-Sea wildlife rescuers have rescued and helped three orphaned badger cubs which are now receiving expert care at Secret World Wildlife Rescue.
The charity says they were found alone and vulnerable by a roadside in South Petherton, Somerset.
The cubs, estimated to be just 8–9 weeks old, were spotted by a concerned driver who found them wandering without their mother.
Sadly, a deceased lactating sow, presumed to be their mother, was discovered further along the road, confirming the cubs had been left to fend for themselves.
Secret World’s experienced volunteers swiftly responded to the call, transporting the cubs to the charity’s treatment centre in East Huntspill near Highbridge.
Katie Gibbs, Wildlife Care Supervisor, says: “On arrival, the young badgers were found to be severely underweight, anaemic, and infested with parasites, indicating they had been alone for several days.”
The wildlife care team acted quickly, administering urgent first aid, removing parasites, and performing thorough health checks. Due to their fragile condition, staff wore full PPE to avoid transmitting any human-borne diseases to the vulnerable cubs.
“The cubs were absolutely crawling with fleas. I’ve never seen that many on a single animal before,” adds Katie.
“They were weak, frightened, and desperately in need of help. It’s a miracle they survived as long as they did on their own.”
The sibling trio, two females and one male, have since been named Dr. Pepper, Pepsi, and Lilt. Dr. Pepper, the only male, has already shown a protective streak.
Footage from the rescue shows him bravely returning to help his smallest sibling, a touching reminder of the close social bonds badgers share.
Now in the care of Secret World’s dedicated wildlife team, they say the cubs are being responsibly bottle-fed Babydog milk, a carefully chosen formula to meet their nutritional needs. In the wild, cubs of this age would still be nursing, so three feeds a day are essential to help them gain weight and strength.
Lilt, the smallest of the three, has required extra attention. Thanks to the care and patience of the team, she’s now beginning to take her feeds more confidently.
Feeding is carried out using tabards infused with the cubs’ own clan scent, which helps reduce stress and promotes a sense of security.
“It’s a delicate balance,” adds Katie. “We want to build enough trust for feeding, but without allowing them to become tame. Our ultimate goal is to return them to the wild, where they belong.”
It comes as Secret World Wildlife Rescue have just launched their ‘Spring into Action’ Appeal, seeking to raise £20,000 towards Staff and Veterinary Costs for 2025.
Over the past two years, Secret World Wildlife Rescue says it has experienced “significant growth, driven by their commitment to providing the highest standard of care for injured, sick, and orphaned wildlife.”
A spokesman adds: “However, this growth has been accompanied by considerable challenges, particularly in meeting the rising costs associated with essential operations. As we continue to expand our services, we are seeking support to ensure our operation can remain sustainable while also progressing vital projects which aim to enhance the quality of care. Since 2023, Secret World’s core wildlife care staffing costs have increased by 27%, a rise of £64,500.”
“This rise reflects our dedication to ensuring the availability of trained and experienced Vet and Wildlife Care personnel who can provide expert care to the thousands of animals we admit every year.” For more information or to support the appeal, click here.
