Badger welfare is a regular issue at APGAW meetings there are two main issues relating to Badger Bovine TB and Snares. Badgers are currently protected under the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 and Badger has special protection under the Badger Act of 1992.

Badgers were discussed at a joint presentation from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and the National Federation of Badger Groups (NFBG) on the use of snares in June 2004.

APGAW provided a forum for both the NFU and the NFBG to present their views about Bovine TB in cattle and badgers.  The NFU argued that TB in livestock is an increasing problem with many farmers losing large numbers of their stock to government ordered culling.  Due to the severity of the problem, the NFU believes that the government should instigate measures to control disease by selectively culling badgers as well as cattle.  However the NFBG believe that there are alternative measures that could be taken to control the disease and that the link between TB in badgers and TB in cattle is not proven.  The NFBG outlined information on the gamma interferon TB test, which they believe could revolutionise bovine TB control in the UK.

In March 2003 the NFBG took part in a forum with British Association of shooting and Conservation (BASC). 

The NFBG argued that snares are indiscriminate and that that there is little difference in terms of suffering between a free running snare and a self locking snare, particularly if a free running snare twists and gets tighter and tighter like a free running snare.  The NFBG beleives that although self-locking snares are illegal they are still in widespread use and Badgers are often killed in them suggesting that current legislation does not provide a legal definition of a self-locking snare. This in turn results in disagreement over the legality of a number of snares currently being manufactured and used in Britain which results in difficulties with prosecutions.

BASC presented the case against further legal interference in regards of snares and believes that the current code of practice, produced by BASC,  provides adequate protection and advocates good practice.  BASC also believes that snares can be used safely and are a humane method of control when used by a responsible.  BASC acknowledged that shooting from a vehicle with a centre fire rifle was the most common method of fox control but recognised that was not always possible to use firearms in this way especially in the uplands due to the steep terrain. In situations like this snares were the only practical method available. 

Both organisations agreed that where illegal self-locking snares were used then the users should feel the full weight of the law.