Comments on: About badgers

By: Badger Watching Man

Badger Watching Man — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 21:42:38 +0000

Hi Kevin, and thanks for your comment

I confess I don’t have many ideas. It’s the time of year for cubs, and like all wild animals many badger cubs die young from a whole range of causes. I don’t know what would have buried it though, that’s the puzzle. Unless the old stories of badger funerals and badger burials are true…

If I find out more, I’ll let you know.

All the best

BWM

By: kevin

kevin — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 21:51:41 +0000

hello
found a dead cub when earthing up my spuds ,it was buried about a foot deep in soft soil any ideas .the cub was in good condition

thanks

By: Badger Watching Man

Badger Watching Man — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:18:23 +0000

Hi Malcolm, and welcome

I think that whether having badgers in your garden causes problems depends on how you feel about them. Many people welcome them and enjoy watching them, but they can cause damage. They tend not to respect fences, for instance, and they have a habit of digging up your lawn. If you get a proper sett then the holes and spoil heaps can be extensive. But I would always say to enjoy the badgers for what they are.

If you want to be sure that it is badgers, the simplest method is to put down sand and look for tracks. Have a look at http://bedfordshirewild.blogspot.com/2012/02/success-encouraging-foxes-badgers-into.html for an example.

All the best

BWM

By: malcolm fieldsend

malcolm fieldsend — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:31:19 +0000

I think I may have badgers in my garden. I hole appeared under a fence I erected in my garden last year that was previously a leylani hedge. I put the soil back. It was dug away again! I put a breeze block where the hole was. Another hole was dug next to itI I accepted that I may be along a badger route and so I accepted defeat and left the hole. I have then over a couple of months looked for evidence in my garden to no avail. So, being fed up of only seeing cats coming through the hole and using my garden as a tiolet, I blocked the hole up again. Hey presto, along came another hole a few feet away!! I have now noticed a mound of earth at the front of a line of leylandi at the back of my garden that borders my neighbour. The mound goes backwards towards the fence but I can’t see all the way back. I live on an estate that is surrounded by woods (if that helps). How can I confirm that I not only have badgers visiting my garden but I may also have a sett? Also are there any problems having a sett? I live in Plymouth Devon

many thanks

Malcolm

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:11:12 +0000

i love badgers

By: Claire Hagen

Claire Hagen — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:12:01 +0000

Hi BWM,
Thanks for that link, really appreciate your advice. We will make some enquiries along that road.
Have a good summer!

By: Badger Watching Man

Badger Watching Man — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 21:39:13 +0000

Hi Claire Don't forget the licence option. It isn't something I recommend lightly, but it is necessary sometimes. It may be worth speaking to the council pest controller. See http://www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=776&p=0 for instance. If it's any consolation, I've clipped the wings of my chickens. Hasn't cramped their style too much. They still escape...

By: Claire Hagen

Claire Hagen — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 19:26:49 +0000

Dear BWM,
Thanks for the advice. I did what you said but it seems we are helpless to do anything apart from install more heavy duty/electric fencing It’s a big outlay for the sake of one rogue bagder. He is using ambush techiques now and had two failed attempts at jumping one of our large chickens in the field last night at around 8.30pm. We will have to clip their wings to stop them being able to get out of the garden. Trouble is I hate to do that to free rangers.
regards, Claire

By: Badger Watching Man

Badger Watching Man — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 22:01:18 +0000

Hi Clare – sorry to hear your story

It sounds like you have a problem badger on your hands. Attacking chickens is rare and it is only the odd rogue badger that seems to do it. You are right that your badger is probably an outcast – the wounds on the rump are a classic sign of a badger that’s been attacked and driven away by other badgers.

Unfortunately the law on badgers is complex. It is a criminal offence to kill, injure or ‘take’ a badger, but their are exemptions and licences can be obtained in special cases. Serious damage to livestock is one of these. I’m not an expert on the finer points of the law, so it may be best to speak to your badger rescue people about this, although the licence to move or kill a badger has to be granted by either DEFRA or Natural England (I forget which, and I’m not an expert on Quangos either). I think it’s a job for someone with experience.

Other than that, the only option is a physical barrier, including an electric fence. I’d have a word with the badger people and see what they recommend.

Sorry I can’t be of more help

All the best

BWM

By: Badger Watching Man

Badger Watching Man — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 21:38:00 +0000

Hi Lee – sorry to hear about your chickens

As always, I’d ask whether you’re sure a badger is responsible, rather than say, a fox. Badger attacks on poultry are still rare (but they do happen). Attacks from foxes, stoats, rats and mink are more common. The size of the hole may give you a clue.

If it is a badger, the best action is a sturdy fence (or an electric one) to keep it away from the coop, or something to reinforce the nest box.

Hope this helps

BWM