Dead badger strung up at New Forest home of Chris Packham

A DEAD badger has been strung up at the New Forest home of TV presenter and wildlife campaigner Chris Packham.

Mr Packham (58) tweeted a picture of the gruesome late-night discovery on his gate at about 1am this morning (Friday).

He said: “Always nice to get home after a long day at work to a warm welcome at the gate. I’d be grateful if you have an issue with me and my views if you could express it without killing innocent animals.”

The badger is the latest dead animal to be dumped outside the home of Chris Packham, near Marchwood. Previous incidents, which he has reported to the police, were the corpses of birds and a fox.

A spokesperson for Hampshire police said: "Officers are making enquiries following a report of an incident at a property in Marchwood.

"It was reported that a dead badger had been left outside the property. It was found in the early hours of Friday 21st February. Enquiries are ongoing."

Anyone with information should call 101, quoting 44200066020.

The intimidation is believed to be linked to Mr Packham’s work with nature campaign charity Wild Justice, which since launching last year has scored a number of victories in forcing government action from legal work it has carried out.

In April 2019 sudden changes were made to tighten-up bird-shooting licences as a result, which angered some land managers who said species such as magpies, rooks and jackdaws were pests.

The dead birds were tied to Mr Packham’s gate shortly afterwards.

The badger body dumped this morning coincides with Defra formally announcing a review into how game birds are released and their impact on protected sites.

Wild Justice had threatened legal action, saying the impact of such “non-native” species should be studied as a legal requirement under the EU Habitats Directive.

Concerns include their effect on local ecology and carrying ticks which can pass Lyme disease to humans.

Game shooting in the New Forest takes place on the Cadland Estate, near Fawley, and there have also been shoots at Exbury.

A Defra spokesperson said: “The review will look at areas including the number of gamebirds released and their impact on protected sites, the consenting process, and whether further safeguards could be provided to protect sites.

“There will be no immediate changes for owners or occupiers of land.”