Dog walker thought ‘frozen solid’ badger cub was dead – until she moved her paw
An orphaned badger named Bertha is slowly getting better after being discovered ‘frozen solid’.
A dog walker thought the two-week-old cub was dead when her dog discovered her in some woods in Norfolk.
But when she went to check, she saw her slightly move her paw.
She picked the badger up and popped her inside her jacket to keep her warm.
RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre then took the shivering and weak animal in and ‘de-iced’ her on February 13.
Inspector Dan Bradshaw previously said ‘it was lucky the dog found her as she probably wouldn’t have lasted much longer’.
It’s unknown what happened to her mother, but experts suspect she could have been injured or abandoned her cub due to inexperience.
Now, staff have offered an update saying Bertha is ‘growing well, gaining weight and headed in the right direction’.
Posting an adorable picture of her feeding, they added that she is still ‘fragile’ but ‘we are doing our best to give her a fighting chance’.
Staff also revealed this week that Bertha has opened her eyes. Badger cubs tend not to do this until roughly five weeks old.
The RSPCA is hoping to unite Bertha with another orphaned cub so they can be reared together.
Posting on Twitter, staff have issued a reminder to people: ‘Remember Orphan season has started, badger cubs will be emerging from their setts in a few weeks.
‘If you find any orphan wildlife and need advice please contact us’.
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