Flowtrain Posted May 14, 2003 Share Posted May 14, 2003 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hereford/worcs/3023369.stm Badger rampage injures five Badgers are usually wary of humans A rogue badger attacked five people during a 48-hour rampage in a quiet suburb. One man required two skin graft operations, after the badger woke him up and attacked him when he went outside to investigate. Other victims included a man who was attacked as he walked home from a pub, in Evesham, Worcestershire. Mike Weaver, from the Worcestershire Badger Society, said: "I have never heard of anything like this in 24 years of work with badgers throughout the UK." 'Horror movie' The badger, which is thought to have been injured, has been put down. Pam Fitzgerald, said the attack on her husband Michael, who is still in hospital after the skin grafts, was like a "bizarre horror movie". Michael Fitzgerald needed two skin grafts She said: "We had gone to bed and we heard a noise in the garage. "My husband opened the door and the badger sat there and then, gradually, just slowly walked towards him and attacked him. "It caught him on his arm and, in the process of trying to get the badger off himself, he's lost quite a lot of skin on his arm and some of the flesh." Mrs Fitzgerald said the badger also bit her husband's leg, forcing the couple to flee inside their house. "It was terrifying because we didn't expect a badger to attack because we know that badgers, when they smell a human, will disappear," she said. Police take evasive action Mrs Fitzgerald added that her husband will have a lasting reminder of the attack. "He's still in hospital... they've had to do skin grafts on both of his wounds. He will be very badly scarred." The Worcestershire Badger Society, finally rounded up the animal on Friday. I been involved with badgers for 24 years now and I've never heard of anything like this Mike Weaver Worcestershire Badger Society Mr Weaver said: "I was called out on Thursday night. A young man walking home, I presume from the pub, had been bitten by a badger." The animal was nowhere to be seen, but early on Friday morning Mr Weaver received a call from police after it was seen chasing people. "The police officer told me it had kept some of their officers at bay and indeed they had to jump on to the bonnet of a car to escape it." Mr Weaver said it was extraordinary behaviour for an animal that is usually wary of people. "Normal behaviour for a badger would be that as soon as it scented humans it would take off. Tamed cub "My belief is that this badger had been brought up from a cub with people. The evidence for that is the fact that it had no fear of humans at all." Mr Weaver said there was no need for people to start fearing an onslaught of badger attacks. He said: "I've been in touch with other people who've been involved with badgers and they've never heard of anything like it. "I would consider this to be a one-off incident and the people of Evesham and Worcestershire, and indeed everywhere else in the country should not be worried that this may happen again." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarhog Posted May 14, 2003 Share Posted May 14, 2003 Man I'm having a Marine Corps flashback....when I was at the Infantry Officer's Course at Quantico VA (intensive 6 month school) we were out individually completing our land navigation course. You're out with a map and compass and have to find 10 boxes spread out over about 10 miles of thick woods under timed conditions. About halfway through, I come to this nasty swamp and I have 2 choices. Shoot an azimuth to an 'aiming point' on the other side and either walk 2 miles around the swamp to get to it, or walk over a huge bunch of rotting logs and debris (an hour of walking vs 10 min - easy call right?). Halfway across (and feeling pretty smug about it) I jump onto a big 'mound' of sticks and my foot goes through it into the water up to my knee. To my freaking horror, something gets ahold of my combat boot and is tugging quite intensely on my leg. After nearly soiling myself, and finally getting my leg free, I begin spastically jumping from pile to pile as I am being pursued by the biggest, most pissed off beaver I have seen in my life. I had parallel visions, first coming to mind was the rabbit scene from 'The Grail' (he's got huuuge nasty fangs and a mean streak a mile wild), then the bizarre 'Jimmy Carter Attacked by Rabbit while Fishing' story. That damn beaver chased me for at least 1000 yards. I was thankful he never caught up to me, least of my worries being known from that moment on as 'that dumb@ss who got attacked by the beaver', not a promising way to begin an illustrious military career! BEWARE THE BADGER! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Om Posted May 14, 2003 Share Posted May 14, 2003 Well, I was never in the Marines, but there's an angry beaver or two in my past, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riggo-toni Posted May 14, 2003 Share Posted May 14, 2003 As usual, OM has cracked me up!!!!!!:rofl: :lol: I've never seen a Badger. Do they exist on this continent?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dchogs Posted May 14, 2003 Share Posted May 14, 2003 damn om, you read my mind. big pissed off beavers are definately something to be feared. i figure most beavers would be angry if you plunge in without warning... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboDaMan Posted May 14, 2003 Share Posted May 14, 2003 Obviously, Tarhog, your mistake was not buying it dinner first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarhog Posted May 14, 2003 Share Posted May 14, 2003 Here I go trying to share a nice 'clean' anecdote and..... Thanks I wanted to go there myself, but I knew I could count on you! You guys are killing me :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Symbol Posted May 14, 2003 Share Posted May 14, 2003 I only play with rabid beavers, not angry ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK SkinsFan Posted May 14, 2003 Share Posted May 14, 2003 Originally posted by Flowtrain Other victims included a man who was attacked as he walked home from a pub, in Evesham, Worcestershire. Mike Weaver, from the Worcestershire Badger Society, said: "I have never heard of anything like this in 24 years of work with badgers throughout the UK." 'Horror movie' The badger, which is thought to have been injured, has been put down. Pam Fitzgerald, said the attack on her husband Michael, who is still in hospital after the skin grafts, was like a "bizarre horror movie". Michael Fitzgerald needed two skin grafts She said: "We had gone to bed and we heard a noise in the garage. "My husband opened the door and the badger sat there and then, gradually, just slowly walked towards him and attacked him. This guy must be stupid, if you see a badger & it is cornered it will attack. All he had to do was back away & get back in the house. I cannot belive I have read this story on this website as I used to live just 7 miles from Evesham. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TennesseeCarl Posted May 14, 2003 Share Posted May 14, 2003 Tarhog - regardless of OM's attempt to drag us all down to his level of depravity I thought that was a remarkable story. I see a fair amount of beaver while I'm out fishing (Oh, go ahead, OM - it's cheap and easy) and they ain't little critters. That must have been one h#ll of a scare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Genius Posted May 14, 2003 Share Posted May 14, 2003 Ok, call me ignorant - but wasn't this story about BADGERS and not beavers? They are quite different...I think the Beaver is a rodent (insert joke here) while the Badger is just a burrowing mammal (insert another joke here). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WallyG3 Posted May 14, 2003 Share Posted May 14, 2003 Tarhog - Most infantry Marines have at least one good land nav story, but that one is the funniest I have ever heard!! Semper Humorous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redman Posted May 15, 2003 Share Posted May 15, 2003 Tarhog- I must know. Did you have a firearm with you? :laugh: And LOL, Om and everyone else, hilarious thread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blondie Posted May 15, 2003 Share Posted May 15, 2003 Badgers.........beavers...........and blondes!!!!!! OH MY!!! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: ;) Blondie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Om Posted May 15, 2003 Share Posted May 15, 2003 Gee, TC, coming from the man whose proposed question for Rock Cartwright was about whether or not the fact that Dan Snyder "towers over him" is intimidating, that shot about the cheap and easy angle really wounds me. As to the outrage (mild though 'twere) over the unmitigated gall of my having taken it upon myself to nudge a quintessential, lighthearted, way off-topic, deep off-season, Tailgate badger thread in the direction of a quintessential, lighthearted, way off-topic, deep off-season Tailgate beaver thread ... well, I offer my profoundest apologies. You'd think I'd have achieved a more somber perspective after lo these many years. And as to Ms. Blondie ... hmm. It would seem we aren't in Kansas any more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TennesseeCarl Posted May 16, 2003 Share Posted May 16, 2003 I needed a chuckle, OM. Thanks. You know I was just havin' fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Om Posted May 16, 2003 Share Posted May 16, 2003 Ditto. Happy Friday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy-the-Greek Posted May 16, 2003 Share Posted May 16, 2003 Does anyone know how closely related is a badger to a wolverine? Lb. per LB. I think a wolverine is the nastiest critter on earth. I have heard stories of a 35lb wolverine chasing away a 500lb bear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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