A SOMERSET couple had a shock when they discovered a badger in their bin as they took the rubbish out.

RSPCA animal collection officer Clara Scully (ACO) was called on Thursday morning (September 6) to help the badger.

She dashed to Beechwood Drive in Crewkerne to rescue the stricken animal.

“The bin was in the couple’s garden,” she said.

“There was garden equipment that had been knocked over behind the bin and it was stored beside a shed so I think the badger had run along the back of the shed and, searching for food, either fell into the bin while following his nose or tried to climb down onto it and slipped.

“I think they had quite the fright when they peered in and saw him staring back up at them, covered in waste.”

As it was daylight, ACO Scully couldn’t release the rather embarrassed badger there and then so she took him to RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre, in nearby Taunton, to be assessed and prepared for release.

“Thankfully the badger wasn’t injured so we’re hoping to release him over the weekend,” ACO Scully added.

The rather amusing rescue comes just a few weeks after another RSPCA officer was called to a stricken badger - stuck in a tree.

The badger was spotted on August 16 in Harefield, London, with his front leg wedged between two branches of a plum tree.

RSPCA inspector Callum Isitt attended to free the badger who’d slipped trying to climb the tree to reach the tasty plums.

The badger was taken to RSPCA Putney Animal Hospital for treatment for a leg injury.

Anyone who comes across a wild animal who is trapped or injured is urged to monitor them from a reasonable distance and call the RSPCA for help.

“Wild animals can have a nasty bite and, if frightened or in pain, are more likely to lash out at someone trying to help them,” ACO Scully added.

“That’s why we always ask people not to try to rescue the animal themselves as we don’t want anyone to get hurt and we try to avoid stressing the animal any further.”

If you find a wild animal in distress or are concerned for the welfare of a pet, contact the RSPCA’s 24-hour emergency line on 0300 1234 999.