ECOLOGY

 

Badgers are primarily nocturnal animals, may grow up to 1 metre in length and can weigh up to 14 kg. They live in family or social groups and may be heard fighting rival groups in defence of a territory. They shelter in holes known as setts which may have up to 40 entrances or as few as 2. Some of the main setts may be used for generations and badger groups can be very loyal to them. Additional setts known as annex, subsidiary or outlier setts also play an important role within a social group. Badgers do not hibernate but stay in their setts during much of the winter. 

 

SURVEYS

 

If there is potential for badgers or a badger sett to be affected by a proposed development, a survey is needed to establish extent to which badgers use a particular area to establish active setts, foraging areas and territory. Badger surveys can be conducted throughout the year however optimal months are from February to April and September to November. Although setts can still be surveyed they should not be disturbed, closed or removed between December and the end of June as the young will still be dependant upon the sow at this time. To determine the presence of Badgers on a site, direct and indirect evidence should be acquired which may include: 

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• Direct badger sightings

• Active setts

• Badger prints using track traps

• Excavated soil, mud and imprinted paths outside the setts

• Bedding in mounds

• Distinctive badger hairs caught on thorns, wire or using hair traps or in mounds of soil or old bedding material

• Latrines in which badgers defecate (holes in the ground or scrapes in soil)

 

If further work is required on the extent of the size and usage of the territory, this can be assessed by using bait marking where food may be marked with a small harmless coloured plastic pellets. This can then be surveyed to see where the faeces with the pellets are found, and therefore the extent of their territorial boundaries. 

 

If you require a badger survey, contact us and we will be happy to help.