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SETT-TO WITH BADGERS

I was charged at by rowdy ‘bulldog-sized’ badgers while looking for my missing cat

A DAD looking for his missing cat was charged at by a rowdy pair of badgers.

Stephen McDonald, 46, said “Springwatch turned Crimewatch” as one ran at him.

Pic from Stephen Mc Donald/ Magnus News. Pic shows the "ferociously fast" badger which rushed a man in Birmingham, UK, almost "breaking his leg" in a terrifying encounter earlier this month around midnight as he searched for his cat on July 2...Image usage your standard rates for print and online. Queries please email pictures@magnusnewsagency.com or call +44(0)1215371514 www.magnusnewsagency.com If you need more copy please email newsdesk@magnusnewsagency.com or check with your newsdesk. ..COPY ..‘FEROCIOUS BADGER’ COULD HAVE ‘BROKEN MY LEG’, SAYS MAN RUSHED BY MUSTELID IN LATE NIGHT ALLEYWAY ENCOUNTER ..By Richard Ashmore..A man fears a ‘ferociously fast’ badger could have ‘broken his leg’ after the mustelid rushed him in a scary late-night alleyway encounter...Stephen Mc Donald was confronted by a pair of the stocky black and white mammals as he searched his neighbourhood for his missing cat, Niche...Stephen, 46, had just returned from a week’s holiday with his wife in Greece when his daughter had told him his cat had not been seen around his home in Quinton, Birmingham. ..Thinking his moggy may have become “depressed” in his absence, Stephen decided to take a walk to find Niche one night earlier this month. ..But as he searched the streets the dad-of-one was suddenly confronted by two badgers lurking down an alleyway. ..Stephen, 46, said he got out his camera to photograph the “fascinating” moment, but things quickly turned from “Springwatch to Crimewatch” as one of the “bulldog-sized” badgers charged. ..He said: “I saw this as an opportunity not to be missed and took my phone out in an attempt to record the two badgers as it was really fascinating, but Springwatch suddenly turned into Crimewatch...“I was going to show my neighbours the pictures the following day as everyone is aware that badgers exist in our avenue, but very few people have actually seen them. ..“When I took out my phone, typically I couldn't get the sodding video to work so I started taking random photos secretly trying not to disturb them. ..“I managed to get relatively close and started snapping away from the side and somehow losing my concentration I managed to face one badger square on. ..“When the culprit noticed me, I was about three metres away, and he suddenly and intentionally rushed at me at with ferocious speed. ..“He brushed passed my leg, which I just managed to move out of the way at the last minute, and he stampeded through a small fence. ..“His accomplice also bolted through another fence in the corner causing quite a large commotion and noise. ..“The speed and fright of the incident almost knocked me off my feet and caused me to drop my camera and my keys in the melee. ..“I am convinced, the badger could have broken my leg (not intentionally) given the size and speed at which it was moving.”..Stephen said he estimated his mammalian assailant was about three to four stone in weight and not dissimilar in size to a bulldog. ..The finance manager’s brush with the badgers happened around midnight on July 2 and thankfully he has since managed to find his cat Niche...Stephen, who also works as a photographer, said: “Upon returning to my house I managed to find our cat who trotted over to me like nothing had happened and just like it was a normal day in the office for him...“I did not sustain any injuries thankfully, more a matter of shock as what I had experienced. I don't see the Badgers as being a problem although the noise and commotion by them could be classed as anti-social behaviour perhaps...“I guess that it was my own fault and naivety that caused the incident as my curiosity got the better of me. ..“The badgers were probably more scared of me and just bolted at me in an attempt to find a clear exit and escape route. I wouldn't recommend that anyone approaches a badger as they are quite formidable and do have large claws.”..ENDS
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Stephen McDonald was charged at by a pair of badgers while out to look for cat NicheCredit: Stephen McDonald / Magnus News
Pic from Stephen Mc Donald/ Magnus News. Pic shows the "ferociously fast" badger which rushed a man in Birmingham, UK, almost "breaking his leg" in a terrifying encounter earlier this month around midnight as he searched for his cat on July 2...Image usage your standard rates for print and online. Queries please email pictures@magnusnewsagency.com or call +44(0)1215371514 www.magnusnewsagency.com If you need more copy please email newsdesk@magnusnewsagency.com or check with your newsdesk. ..COPY ..‘FEROCIOUS BADGER’ COULD HAVE ‘BROKEN MY LEG’, SAYS MAN RUSHED BY MUSTELID IN LATE NIGHT ALLEYWAY ENCOUNTER ..By Richard Ashmore..A man fears a ‘ferociously fast’ badger could have ‘broken his leg’ after the mustelid rushed him in a scary late-night alleyway encounter...Stephen Mc Donald was confronted by a pair of the stocky black and white mammals as he searched his neighbourhood for his missing cat, Niche...Stephen, 46, had just returned from a week’s holiday with his wife in Greece when his daughter had told him his cat had not been seen around his home in Quinton, Birmingham. ..Thinking his moggy may have become “depressed” in his absence, Stephen decided to take a walk to find Niche one night earlier this month. ..But as he searched the streets the dad-of-one was suddenly confronted by two badgers lurking down an alleyway. ..Stephen, 46, said he got out his camera to photograph the “fascinating” moment, but things quickly turned from “Springwatch to Crimewatch” as one of the “bulldog-sized” badgers charged. ..He said: “I saw this as an opportunity not to be missed and took my phone out in an attempt to record the two badgers as it was really fascinating, but Springwatch suddenly turned into Crimewatch...“I was going to show my neighbours the pictures the following day as everyone is aware that badgers exist in our avenue, but very few people have actually seen them. ..“When I took out my phone, typically I couldn't get the sodding video to work so I started taking random photos secretly trying not to disturb them. ..“I managed to get relatively close and started snapping away from the side and somehow losing my concentration I managed to face one badger square on. ..“When the culprit noticed me, I was about three metres away, and he suddenly and intentionally rushed at me at with ferocious speed. ..“He brushed passed my leg, which I just managed to move out of the way at the last minute, and he stampeded through a small fence. ..“His accomplice also bolted through another fence in the corner causing quite a large commotion and noise. ..“The speed and fright of the incident almost knocked me off my feet and caused me to drop my camera and my keys in the melee. ..“I am convinced, the badger could have broken my leg (not intentionally) given the size and speed at which it was moving.”..Stephen said he estimated his mammalian assailant was about three to four stone in weight and not dissimilar in size to a bulldog. ..The finance manager’s brush with the badgers happened around midnight on July 2 and thankfully he has since managed to find his cat Niche...Stephen, who also works as a photographer, said: “Upon returning to my house I managed to find our cat who trotted over to me like nothing had happened and just like it was a normal day in the office for him...“I did not sustain any injuries thankfully, more a matter of shock as what I had experienced. I don't see the Badgers as being a problem although the noise and commotion by them could be classed as anti-social behaviour perhaps...“I guess that it was my own fault and naivety that caused the incident as my curiosity got the better of me. ..“The badgers were probably more scared of me and just bolted at me in an attempt to find a clear exit and escape route. I wouldn't recommend that anyone approaches a badger as they are quite formidable and do have large claws.”..ENDS .
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He says the attack could have broken his leg as the animals were 'bulldog-sized'Credit: Stephen McDonald / Magnus News

He dropped his phone and keys as he sidestepped the attack, which he says could have broken his leg as the animals were “bulldog-sized”.

Stephen, of Birmingham, was out looking for moggy Niche when he disturbed the pair in an alley.

He had just returned from a week’s holiday with his wife in Greece when his daughter had told him his cat had not been seen around his home.

The finance manager, who took pictures before the attack said: “I managed to get relatively close and started snapping away from the side and somehow losing my concentration I managed to face one badger square on.

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“When the culprit noticed me, I was about three metres away, and he suddenly and intentionally rushed at me with ferocious speed.

“He brushed past my leg, which I just managed to move out of the way at the last minute, and he stampeded through a small fence.

“His accomplice also bolted through another fence in the corner causing a large commotion and noise.

“I wouldn’t recommend approaching them.

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“They are formidable and have large claws.”

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