A court hearing for the badgers: Press release
Since 18 July, badgers in the Orne may be hunted right down to the bottom of their burrows, in the middle of the rearing season. One Voice, ASPAS, AVES France and FNE Normandie are calling on the Administrative Court of Caen to suspend the prefectural order authorising digging-out until 14 September 2026. The hearing will take place on Monday 3 August at 11.30 am.
Underground hunting, or digging-out, is one of the most barbaric hunting practices imaginable: hours of terror deep inside the burrow, cornered by dogs, before being dragged out with tongs and killed. And in the height of summer, this non-selective practice also impacts the young badgers. Still dependent on their parents until autumn, they are killed in the burrow — or left to starve to death once their parents have been slaughtered. This is the central argument put forward by our organisations: the law prohibits the killing of young mammals, and the courts have repeatedly reminded the prefects of this, decision after decision.
As for the quota of 200 badgers set by the prefecture, it imposes no real limit, since in previous years an average of 300 badgers were killed over a much longer period. This so-called cap is therefore not truly restrictive.
In recent weeks, the courts have already suspended the summer digging-out in the Marne, Finistère, Ille-et-Vilaine, Aisne, Haute-Marne, Cher, Eure-et-Loir and Indre-et-Loire. Our four organisations, represented by the law firm Géo-Avocats, are calling for the badgers of the Orne to be granted this protection as well.
Opposed to hunting in all its forms, One Voice will fight until this unspeakably cruel practice is abolished once and for all.
A court hearing for the badgers: Press release
One Voice defends the badgers of the Orne in court on Monday 3 August in Caen