A Scottish man is fighting to keep a badger named Harriet after saving her from starvation, only for wildlife officials to tell him she must be released into the wild or sent to a zoo.
Graeme Wilson, a 55-year-old ecologist from the Scottish Borders, rescued Harriet in April after the young badger was discovered severely underweight and filthy inside a cattle trough, roughly 300 feet from her sett.
Wilson, who operates a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation service called GW Ecology, took Harriet in and nursed her back to health.
However, he quickly noticed something unusual about the animal. Despite being just a few months old, Harriet appeared remarkably comfortable drinking milk from a bottle, leading him to suspect she had previously been raised by humans.
“It was almost second nature when she saw the bottle,” Wilson told the BBC.
“I have cared for injured badgers before and never have I seen something like it. It was clear then she couldn’t be released back into the wild.”
Wilson reportedly attempted to release Harriet at two different badger setts, but she became extremely distressed and appeared determined to return to him.
Unfortunately, keeping Harriet has now become a legal battle.
GoFundMeMan ordered to put badger back in the wild or in a zoo
According to PEOPLE, Scotland’s wildlife agency, NatureScot, rejected Wilson’s application for an educational license that would allow him to continue caring for Harriet.
Officials instead advised that the badger should be released or transferred to a licensed zoo, something Wilson believes could put her welfare at risk.
“Badgers are companion animals, they are a social animal and unfortunately for Harriet she has decided that humans are her social group,” he explained.
“Can you imagine Harriet approaching someone on a dog walk or in the street? There is only one way that would end.”
He also fears that sending Harriet to a zoo would leave her lonely and distressed.
“Harriet’s upbringing means she needs human interaction, not to be put behind glass and stared at,” Wilson said.
NatureScot has defended its decision, explaining that his application failed to meet the legal requirements for keeping a protected wild animal.
However, the agency clarified that Wilson could allow Harriet to roam freely from his property while continuing to provide food and shelter, provided her movements are not restricted.
GoFundMeThe organization says discussions are ongoing to find a solution that prioritizes Harriet’s welfare.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support her care and potentially fund a specially designed habitat if Wilson receives permission to keep her.
The unusual dispute echoes the controversy surrounding Peanut the squirrel, who was seized from his owner by New York wildlife officials in 2024.
For now, Wilson remains determined to give Harriet a safe future.
“Harriet never asked for any of this — she deserves to live happily,” he said.
I’m Abhishek Sharma, an author at TigerJek.com. I enjoy exploring games, testing different strategies, and turning what I learn into clear, useful guides. My goal is to help players understand the game better and improve without the usual confusion.
