Underground hunting: hundreds of badgers saved and new hearings to come
Additional periods of underground hunting in 2025 and 2026 definitively nullified in Allier
Another victory for the badgers of the Allier region: the order authorising two additional hunting periods (from 1 July 2025 to the opening of the hunting season and from 15 May to 30 June 2026) has been definitively nullified by the court. This decision confirms the emergency suspension of unearthing that we obtained last summer together with a group of associations (AVES, ASPAS, FNE, FNE Allier and LPO Auvergne Rhône-Alpes), and cancels the 2026 season before it even begins.
Once again, the court has ruled against the total disregard for procedure displayed by the Prefect who presented largely insufficient data to justify the slaughter of badgers throughout the region. The data on the alleged increase in populations seems to have been pulled out of thin air, with no details provided as to its origin.
This victory once again demonstrates the absurdity of these measures. If the Prefect were to dismiss this court decision out of hand, we would not hesitate to take the matter to court again.
Allier, Eure, Rhône… In 2025, as in 2023 and 2024, we have embarked, together with ASPAS and AVES, and in some cases, the LPO, FNE and their local branches Perche-Nature and Eure-et-Loir Nature, on a real long-distance race to save as many badgers as possible from the diggers. Since 2019, One Voice has been leading the fight against this deadly practice. And as always, the courts have overwhelmingly ruled in our favour. Despite these repeated victories, the authorities and hunters continue to slaughter many animals at the bottom of their burrows. While we await the verdict on an emergency suspension in Charente-Maritime and Eure-et-Loir, and an interim hearing is scheduled for 17 July at the Administrative Court in Limoges for the region of Haute-Vienne, we are preparing a new series of requests!
From Allier to Eure via Rhône, the shovels will be staying in the shed this summer
Hunters are never short of ideas to keep themselves busy when the shooting season is over. At this time of year, while badgers, peaceful black- and white-furred housemates, are raising their newborn young, humans are preparing their giant tongs to go out and track them down for hours on end and take their lives. As every year, they find us and our partners standing in their way.
In the Allier and Eure regions, government officials had authorised the unearthing of badgers in the spring. Even though the authorities are constantly trying to put obstacles in our way to prevent us from acting, the judges have suspended the killings. In these two regions, young animals were going to be killed illegally.
The same thing happened in the Rhône region, where the Prefect did not even defend herself: the administrative judge has just put a stop to the hunting season, which had been open since 15 May 2025. A first for this region! In the Finistère region too, badgers were saved after a nullification a few days after the start of the season
Underground hunting, a hunting practice in decline… We are keeping up the pressure!
The number of French regions that allow this cruel pastime during breeding season has never been lower: 12 in 2025, compared to 72 in 2020. This is the result of long-term efforts, massive public support – 84% of French people are in favour of banning underground badger hunting –and an increasing number of court rulings. Sometimes –but far too rarely– prefects come to their senses: in the regions of Lot and Loir-et-Cher, they finally abandoned their plans after several successive defeats in court.
But the battle is not yet won. In the regions of Cantal and Puy-de-Dôme, the judge rejected our request based on an incomprehensible (lack of) justification, leaving the way open for hunters to indulge themselves shamelessly. In the region of Tarn-et-Garonne, the court considered that the killing of a few individuals did not justify an emergency ruling.
Therefore, throughout France, we continue to challenge, whenever we can, these unacceptable orders that sign the death warrant of hundreds of animals. In a few days, the courts will rule for Charente-Maritime (with AVES, ASPAS and LPO) and Eure-et-Loir (with AVES, ASPAS and Eure-et-Loir Nature), before a new hearing on 17 July at 2pm at the Administrative Court in Limoges for Haute-Vienne (with AVES and ASPAS).
As we prepare our appeals for many other regions, join us in demanding a permanent ban on underground badger hunting!
Additional periods of underground hunting in 2025 and 2026 definitively nullified in Allier
Another victory for the badgers of the Allier region: the order authorising two additional hunting periods (from 1 July 2025 to the opening of the hunting season and from 15 May to 30 June 2026) has been definitively nullified by the court. This decision confirms the emergency suspension of unearthing that we obtained last summer together with a group of associations (AVES, ASPAS, FNE, FNE Allier and LPO Auvergne Rhône-Alpes), and cancels the 2026 season before it even begins.
Once again, the court has ruled against the total disregard for procedure displayed by the Prefect who presented largely insufficient data to justify the slaughter of badgers throughout the region. The data on the alleged increase in populations seems to have been pulled out of thin air, with no details provided as to its origin.
This victory once again demonstrates the absurdity of these measures. If the Prefect were to dismiss this court decision out of hand, we would not hesitate to take the matter to court again.
No decision on the merits in Lot
After a victory by default to suspend the order in the Lot region – and despite the start of the badger killings before its withdrawal by the Prefect – the Court in Toulouse will not rule on the nullification of the measures, as the withdrawal has become final. This sends a strong signal in this region, which further strengthens our fight against additional periods of underground hunting.
End of the massacres in Morbihan and Ille-et-Vilaine
The decisions were a long time coming, but this is excellent news for badgers. The Court in Rennes emphasised the lack of evidence to establish that these animals are responsible for damage to crops… It is easy to accuse them, but obviously more difficult to prove it! The judge has therefore suspended the additional periods of underground hunting, which during these months endanger young animals still dependent on their parents.
Rejection in Creuse and Corrèze
The Court in Limoges has rejected our request for a suspension in the regions of Creuse and Corrèze. The judge disregarded the significant risks to badger cubs and sided with the hunters. Worse still, the lack of evidence of damage in these regions – which is necessary for measures to be put in place –was ignored without any consideration.
We are not giving up: the final hearing will take place on 6 August at 2pm at the Court in Amiens for underground hunting in the Aisne region!
Victory in Haute-Vienne
The Court in Limoges has once again confirmed its position and suspended the additional period of underground hunting in the Haute-Vienne region. Badgers –accused this time by hunters… of eating lambs– will therefore be left in peace until September.
Hearings scheduled for 25 July!
Together with our partners, ASPAS and AVES, we will be present on 25 July at 10am at the Administrative Court in Orléans to request the suspension of the orders in the Cher region –accompanied by Nature 18– and in Indre-et-Loire.
Rejection for the additional period 2024 in Loire
The administrative judge in Lyon has rejected our request to nullify underground hunting in 2024 in the Loire region. The Court persists in its position and has once again refused to protect badger cubs from slaughter.
Rejection in Charente-Maritime and upcoming hearing
In the Charente-Maritime region, the fate of badgers is different: the judge in Poitiers has rejected our request for suspension, pointing to the reduced (but not very objective) number of hunters and the setting of a quota… This is sad news for these animals who will have to fight for their survival.
We will be present at the hearing on 30 July at 2pm at the Administrative Court in Limoges to request the suspension of the orders in the regions of Creuse and Corrèze.
New victories in Ardennes and Eure-et-Loir
There is more good news for badgers. In the regions of Ardennes and Eure-et-Loir, the judges have recognised the urgency of suspending underground hunting, sparing these animals and their still-dependent young two months of terror!