THREE badgers have been found dead following work being carried out in a field to build houses in Stirlingshire.
Police confirmed they are making enquiries after receiving a report of a badger sett being disturbed at Berryhills in Cowie on Tuesday, March 4.
The land was approved in December last year to be developed into a new housing estate with 59 homes to be built.
The firm behind the development, Richard Street Limited based in Clackmannanshire, said it had been carrying out tree and scrub removal work in the field before all work was halted after the deceased badgers were discovered.
Company director, Stewart Shearer, told the Stirling Observer a survey had been carried out by an ecologist and “no evidence” of badgers or setts on the land were found.
Shearer said: “Tree and scrub removal works took place this week to allow further site investigations in advance of the development commencement this summer.
“Cowie Community Council were notified in advance of our planned works.
“We were alerted to the demise of three badgers in the Cowie area on Wednesday morning and ceased all works to allow the ecologist to revisit the site.
“Following their survey on Wednesday afternoon the ecologist has confirmed that there is no evidence of any badgers or badger setts either on the site or in the vicinity of the site.”
The firm confirmed the situation has been raised with NatureScot and said the ecologist will engage with the government agency over the matter.
Badgers are a protected animal under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and firms must have a licence to work on a badger sett.
A NatureScot spokesperson said: “We have investigated this incident after Stirling Council contacted us and based on the details provided to us, we can find no record of a licence for this site.
“It is illegal to injure or kill a badger or intentionally or recklessly damage a badger sett without a licence.
“We have informed the council of who to contact in Police Scotland and will help the police with any inquiries as needed.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “On Tuesday, March 4, we received a report of a badger sett having been disturbed at a building site in the Cowie area.
“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”
