WHEN HUNGER OVERRIDES FEAR...

 When Hunger Overrides Fear…

Yes, it was a breezy early evening 

And I was upwind of the badgers.

Yet still they began to emerge,

A pair at a time.

They were though, discerning

Feeders, not like pets, or cadgers.

Several of them seemed to surge

In twos each time…

Yes, the evening breeze hissed

And several aircraft roared overhead.

Yet still the badgers foraged,

In pairs it seemed at the time.

They were however, listening

For unfamiliar sounds to dread,

Like cars or cyclists which encouraged

Retreat, often two at a time…

One cub though, already wily and cute,

Heard threats early and rushed back to its sett

Before the others reacted and disappeared.

Then quickly and I must suggest, cleverly

The cub instantly reappeared,

Snapping up morsels, even the minute, 

As if fooling other members of the cete,

Grunting as it snatched at the food hurriedly…

Pete Ray

29th June 2022

Temple Balsall…

One growing cub seemed to display fear and would rush back to its sett before an approaching car was even heard by the other six badgers. 

Its defensive action affected the others, which usually retreated too but the cub was quick to reappear, thus having the scattered food all to itself for several glorious moments until the other members of the cete also returned to the feeding trail…

A ruse perhaps…