Mabel

One evening, a member of the public brought a tiny badger cub to us after keeping an eye on her throughout the day, hoping her mother would return.

She was cold, barely moving and extremely weak. We weren't sure she would survive the night, although her feisty temperament suggested she wasn't ready to give up.

With fluid therapy, regular assisted feeds and intensive nursing, she began to recover. By the end of the first week, her strength was returning and she had earned the name Mabel.

Although her appetite improved, Mabel remained small for her age. We wanted her to grow up alongside another young badger and learn the behaviours she would need in the wild.

After tuberculosis testing and subsequent retesting, she was transferred to Folly Wildlife Rescue for the next stage of rehabilitation. There, she was paired with another young badger. They were housed together and, eventually, both were released back into the wild.

Mabel’s story shows how veterinary nursing and collaboration between wildlife rescue centres can give a vulnerable animal a second chance.