CARCASES of badgers killed on the roads are to be collected and tested to check on the prevalence of TB in the badger population.
Each year, 50,000 badgers are killed on the roads in Britain. The survey will be conducted in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire, both within and outside of the badger-culling trial.
Minister of State at MAFF, Baroness Hayman, said: "The independent scientific group on cattle TB has told us that the data collected from this survey, when cross-referenced with information from the badger-culling trial, can give and indication of the prevalence of TB in badgers.
"The Government is strongly opposed to the illegal killing of badgers and post mortem examinations of survey carcasses will record any bullet wounds or signs of poisoning. This will be reported to police."
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