Badgers are wreaking havoc on Britain's golf courses, tearing up the carefully maintained greens. This is reported by infohub.kz.
Badgers are black-and-white striped animals that have long lived alongside humans. Their history in Britain spans over half a million years. However, this year's historic drought has changed their behavior. England and Wales experienced their driest July since records began in 1836. Grass has withered, fires have become more frequent, and 26 million people have been placed under water restrictions.
Badgers primarily feed on underground worms and larvae. In drought conditions, the ground hardens, making food harder to find. Therefore, they are turning to irrigated golf courses. According to the Water Use (Temporary Bans) Order 2010, sports turf is exempt from watering bans. While ordinary residents are forced to conserve water, golf courses remain lush and green.
Jim Croxton, chief executive of the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association, says that badgers dig up turf in search of food. August marks the beginning of the chafer grub season, so badgers are tearing up golf courses. Courses from Suffolk to Staffordshire to Worcestershire have been affected.
Golfers are furious. One player commented on a video of a ruined course on social media: "They're a f*ckin pest, I've had countless ornamental lawns wrecked by these f*ckers." However, the badgers are not acting out of malice; they are simply fighting for survival.
This situation calls for a change in the law. On one hand, it seems unfair that golf courses are allowed to use water during a national crisis. On the other hand, if they stop watering, badgers may starve. But badgers are resourceful creatures; they will find a way.