Three 11-year-old boys from East Sussex have been praised by the RSPCA for their efforts to save a male badger stuck down a pit six metres in depth.
Brothers Elias and Idris and their friend, Aaron, were helping an elderly neighbour collect apples from the orchard when they went to explore the old pump house on the farm.
The boys spotted the badger down in the pit and rushed home to get food and water for him. It is believed the badger may have stumbled into the pit while out foraging.
“They came to get a boiled egg and a water trough and lowered them down into the pit, and poured water through a hose from a watering can,” says mum Dodie Baker. “They did really well, I was surprised they had thought of all that.”
After the boys had told their parents about the badger, the RSPCA was called, and inspector Liz Wheeler arrived on the scene to help rescue him using an extendable net.
Once the badger had been checked over to reveal no sign of visible injuries, Inspector Wheeler released him nearby so he could make his way back to his sett.
“The boys did the right thing by calling their parents for help and getting in touch with us,” says Wheeler. “We always encourage people not to try to rescue wild animals themselves as they can bite and scratch when frightened.”
“They kept a safe distance from the badger but managed to get him food and water. I’d like to say a big thank you and well done to them – they saved this badger’s life!”