Letter of the Day: When finding a badger

<p class="bold allcaps">No badgering</p> <p>EDITOR: Thanks to Chris Smith for including in his Thursday column, “Badgered; Both.” If not for this, we might never have learned of a senseless tragedy in Forestville. This past weekend, an uninformed visitor at a residence saw an American badger, became fearful, they called 911, a Sonoma County Animal Control officer arrived on the scene and shot the badger dead.</p><p>If you see a badger, please: (1) Leave the area where you saw it and leave the badger alone. The badger will likely move away from the area. If a burrow is nearby, do not disturb it. The badger may be a young one dispersing, trying to find its territory. If it forages nearby, it will help control your gopher, mouse and vole population. Badgers are people-shy, do not want anything to do with you, and will take a defensive posture, like any wild animal, if threatened. Even in a defensive posture, a badger is not larger than a small to medium-sized dog. You can get away. And leave the badger alone to go on its way.</p><p>If you feel you can't leave the situation alone, call Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue at 526-9453 or, for after-hours crises, 486-0226. And also call Paula Lane Action Network at 241-5548. This can help you feel safer and help save the innocent wild animal's life. These calls may also help you learn about how to respond if you see a badger in the future.</p><p>The American badger is a diminishing California species of concern, special status mammal whose habitat has been significantly lost and fragmented. Please help sustain the badgers that remain. We sincerely hope to work cooperatively with Sonoma Co. Animal Control for education and management of their Animal Control officers.</p><p>USAN KIRKS</p><p><i>Paula Lane Action Network</p><p>Petaluma</i></p>