The Duration of the Effects of Repeated Widespread Badger Culling on Cattle Tuberculosis Following the Cessation of Culling

## Background: In the british isles, control of cattle tuberculosis (tb) is hindered by persistent infection of wild badger (meles meles) populations. a large-scale field trial--the randomised badger culling trial (rbct)--previously showed that widespread badger culling produced modest reductions in cattle tb incidence during culling, which were offset by elevated tb risks for cattle on adjoining lands. once culling was halted, beneficial effects inside culling areas increased, while detrimental effects on adjoining lands disappeared. however, a full assessment of the utility of badger culling requires information on the duration of culling effects. ## Methodology/principal findings: We monitored cattle tb incidence in and around rbct areas after culling ended. we found that benefits inside culled areas declined over time, and were no longer detectable by three years post-culling. on adjoining lands, a trend suggesting beneficial effects immediately after the end of culling was insignificant, and disappeared after 18 months post-culling. from completion of the first cull to the loss of detectable effects (an average five-year culling period plus 2.5 years post-culling), cattle tb incidence was 28.7% lower (95% confidence interval [ci] 20.7 to 35.8% lower) inside ten 100 km(2) culled areas than inside ten matched no-culling areas, and comparable (11.7% higher, 95% ci: 13.0% lower to 43.4% higher, p = 0.39) on lands ## Conclusions/significance: Our findings show that the reductions in cattle tb incidence achieved by repeated badger culling were not sustained in the long term after culling ended and did not offset the financial costs of culling. these results, combined with evaluation of alternative culling methods, suggest that badger culling is unlikely to contribute effectively to the control of cattle tb in britain. A comprehensive natural history of one of Britain's favourite animals The badger has for many years occupied a unique place in the British consciousness. Despite the fact that most people have never seen one, the badger has become one of Britain's best-loved animals. The number of organisations that use the badger as a logo, the number of websites featuring information about badgers, and the number of voluntary badger protection societies that exist are testament to this popularity. In fact, the attitude of most ordinary people towards badgers is complex and contradictory, involving a combination of familiarity and ignorance, concern and indifference. For an increasing number of people, badgers constitute an important source of interest and pleasure, be it through watching them in their gardens or in the wild, sharing badger-related knowledge and experiences with others via the internet, or defending badgers against threats to their welfare. For others, on the other hand, badgers are a problem species that requires active management. In this highly anticipated new study, Prof Tim Roper explores every aspects of the biology and behaviour of these fascinating animals. In doing so, he reveals the complexities of a lifestyle that allows badgers to build communities in an astonishing variety of habitats, ranging from pristine forests to city centres. He also reveals the facts behind the controversy surrounding the badgers' role in transmitting tuberculosis to cattle, shedding new light on an issue that has resulted in one of the most extensive wildlife research programmes ever carried out. Content: Introduction : Badgers in Britain -- Classification, evolutionary origin, geographical distribution and conservation status -- Basic biology -- Badger setts -- Diet and foraging behavior -- Reproduction and development -- Communication -- Soical organisation and use of space -- The origins of social territoriality in badgers -- Badgers and people -- Badgers and bovine tuberculosis -- Appendix : Surveying for badgers. Abstract: The badger is a large mammal, common but very rarely seen in Britain, which has become one of Britain's best-loved animals. This volume reveals the extraordinary complex life style that allows this secretive animal to live in even the most built-up areas of Britain