The British Haven’t Released a Plague of Man-Eating Badgers… OR HAVE THEY?

 

From the Museum of Hoaxes last week came the somewhat troubling news, originating with none other than other than Stars and Stripes, of the Iraqi urban legend that American Troops Eat Babies.  Today comes even more troubling news via the Museum, from the BBC:

British forces have denied rumours that they released a plague of ferocious badgers into the Iraqi city of Basra.

Word spread among the populace that UK troops had introduced strange man-eating, bear-like beasts into the area to sow panic.

But several of the creatures, caught and killed by local farmers, have been identified by experts as honey badgers.

The rumours spread because the animals had appeared near the British base at Basra airport.

UK military spokesman Major Mike Shearer said: “We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area.

“We have been told these are indigenous nocturnal carnivores that don’t attack humans unless cornered.”

Non man-eating badger via Wikipedia.