I mentioned that my efforts to track down and watch badgers after they have left the sett have only been quite fleeting so far. Well, things are going to change.
To celebrate my 2½ week anniversary in my new job, I’ve bought myself a night vision scope. Check out this bad boy:
Actually, I’ve been thinking about getting one for a while. I’ve just been waiting until one came up cheap on eBay.
I haven’t tried it out properly yet, only around the garden, but it really does work. The image is green and a bit fuzzy but you can see in the dark. This could potentially change my badger watching habits a lot. I’m definitely going to spend some time out in the fields this weekend.
If people think it’s suspicious that I go out in the evenings with a camouflage jacket and a pair of binoculars, what on earth will they think about me going out with a night vision device too?
Tales from the Wood - The Diary of a Badger Watching Man 
Hi Badgerman,
Now you’re getting serious! A night vision scope opens up a whole new world to brock watching. You just need a little moonlight and you are all set or should that be sett 😉
It used to frustrate the hell out of me not knowing where the badgers went when they left their sett to forage then one evening with the night vision scope I climbed a hill in a field that overlooks the estate. I used my night scope which also has an infrared beam that you can activate and it throws a large spot of light about 100metres.
It was quite eerie being out alone but at the same time exciting. The infrared beam is great for highlighting the eyes of any animals in the vicinity and I spotted a fox and two rabbits on route to the top.
From the summit I scanned the field and low and behold two adults and three cubs were gorging themselves on worms. One cub came within a few feet of me and an adult came within a few yards before getting a whiff of me. It’s interesting to note how alert the badgers were even in the dark, breaking off from feeding every so often to sniff and I guess listen for strange sounds.
On my way home I have to walk through the edge of a dark wood next a stream and it is always one of those ‘hairs rise on the back of your neck’ situations. I’m a big woose in the dark I guess and wish I hadn’t watched so many horror films as a youngster!
Looking forward to reading your first post re the night vision scope.
Cheers,
John
Wow! Let us know how it goes.
You’ll be alright with a monocular night vision scope, now if you had purchased a binocular vision one with head strap, that would have got you noticed! Then people might be worried as they’d be thinking Silence of the Lambs, stalker, serial killer – that sort of thing.
Looking forward to hearing about your night time forays. Don’t forget that at this time of the year you can follow them in daylight if the area is pretty undisturbed.
And yes, the stalker/serial killer aspect does worry me a little. “It rubs the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again.”
Probably worries other people even more…