Wire Fence Helps Create New Wildlife Rehabilitation Enclosure in Cornwall

On 30th October in Cornwall, Wire Fence supported the creation of Piskie’s Pen, a new outdoor wildlife rehabilitation enclosure, by supplying fencing at cost price.

Piskie’s Pen was built to help Elowen, a young female badger who had been hit by a car. A small independent rescue nursed her back to health, but her sett couldn’t be identified. Because of the long rehabilitation period, it was considered too risky to release her where she was found in case her clan rejected her, as she would not be able to be monitored.

📷Cost price fencing arrived

A Growing Need for Wildlife Support

Cornwall currently has a lack of wildlife resources, and the rescue had limited facilities. Elowen’s story reached a group of Cornwall based volunteers who had been feeding a local badger family for many years. Over time the family had been largely wiped out by culling, leaving just one young female. In 2023 an older female from another clan appeared during very dry weather. The two badgers formed an uneasy truce, eventually becoming friendly and even preening each other.

After speaking with badger experts, the volunteers decided to build a rehabilitation enclosure to give Elowen the chance of a soft release once integration with their local residents had taken place. This is how Piskie’s Pen came to life.

📷Scrap fencing buried in the ground to stop the guests from digging an escape

Building Piskie’s Pen

To keep costs and build time low, the team designed an enclosure that repurposed and upcycled as much as possible while aiming for a natural environment. A Facebook page was created to ask for donated materials, and the local badger group shared it. The one item that had to be new and strong was the fencing. That was where Wire Fence stepped in, providing all the weld mesh at cost price.

Autumn weather made the work difficult, with rain, mud and freezing evenings, but the enclosure was ready for Elowen to move in on 23rd November. She has settled well, exploring the space, running around the playground and even reshaping her artificial sett by digging her own chamber.

Willow from Piskie’s Pen said: “We’re so happy to see that her instincts are all there which is exactly what we wanted to encourage.”

📷A weld mesh roof was added, as badgers are surprisingly good climbers.

What Happens Next

Once Elowen has been released back into the wild, the enclosure will be available for any wildlife that may need it. Piskie’s Pen encourages rescues to get in touch via their Facebook page at Piskie’s Pen.

Disclaimer

Names in this story have been changed. Although Cornwall is mentioned, no specific details about the enclosure have been shared. Due to ongoing crimes against badgers, the rescue prefers to keep its location confidential for the animals’ safety.

📷Elowen in her artificial sett.

📷The rehabilitation enclosure

📷Elowen exploring her new surroundings

📷Elowen, the badger