All about badgers

​

• Latin name meles meles

• Member of the mustelid (weasel) family

• One of Britain’s best loved but most persecuted mammals

• Live in social groups called 'clans' in underground setts

• Grow up to 75cm in length

• Lifespan typically 5-8 years if they survive their first year

• Males tend to have a broader face than females, who have more angular features

• Nocturnal mammals that rely on their sense of smell

• Use scent glands to leave scent markings

• Strong powerful claws to dig with

• Diet is mainly made up of earthworms, sucked up like spaghetti. Yum!

• Other sources of food include elderberries, fruit, corn, wheat, slugs and snails. They will even eat wasp nests!

• Dung pits are known as latrines, which are also used as territorial markers at boundaries

• Delayed implantation means cubs are born once a year in mid-February when feeding conditions are better

• Litters can be between 1-5 cubs

• Badgers are generally clean but messy animals, e.g. bringing their bedding material outside to air it and keep it free of bugs!

 

Setts

Badger setts come in all shapes and sizes but generally you’ll find raised bare patches of soil that has been dug out from the earth.  They may be located in steep banking or in an open, flat field.

 

Badgers are generally loyal to their setts but may leave due to persecution (digging, baiting etc) or just vacate for a holiday! If you check a sett regularly you’ll get used to what’s normal for that sett and be able to record changes throughout the year.

 

Sett entrances

Setts can have just one entrance hole but generally have more. The classic sign to look for is a sideways ‘D’ shape entrance, but not all setts follow this rule. Entrances will be at least 25cm wide. Check sett entrances for signs of recent digging, the disturbed soil may have clear claw marks or paw prints indicating it is an active sett.

​

Spoil heaps

Badgers create spoil heaps outside the sett entrance with the soil they’ve dug out, sometimes with ‘furrows’. These can be quite impressive! It’s much easier to see them in spring and autumn when there’s less undergrowth, and you may also find bedding, paw prints and claw marks.

 

Bedding

Sows gather bedding and drag it backwards into the setts. You may see bedding being ‘aired’ outside the sett entrances to remove fleas and bugs. Grass, bracken and leaves may be used for bedding. Green coloured bedding indicates it’s fresh and a sign of an active sett.

 

Pathways

Badgers tend to stick to the same paths. These will be well worn and you may find badger paw prints on them.

 

Paw prints

Badgers have a distinctive ‘kidney bean’ shaped pad on their paws, with 5 toes and sharp claws.

 

Claw marks and scratching posts

When you are sett surveying look out for claw marks on badger pathways, for example, through a field or crossing a stream. Nearby trees may show signs of being used as a scratching post, and you may also see fallen logs with scratch marks where the badgers have been feeding on grubs.

 

Badger hair

Badger hair appears to be grey as the individual hairs are white-tipped, black in the middle and cream at the base. You can check for badger hair by rolling it between your finger and thumb, its shape means it won’t easily roll. Look for badger hairs on fences along a badger path or in the spoil dug out of the sett or caught on barbed wire - you can save this by sellotaping it onto your sett recording form!

​

Dung pits and latrines

Badgers dig shallow dung pits away from the sett, called a latrine. You may see the remains of feeding on wheat, earthworms, fruit and berries. Remember to record how fresh the dung is!

​

Foraging signs

Badgers will dig snuffle holes and may dig up grassed areas to search for earthworms. They will also dig out roots and grubs in their search for food. This can cause problems for landowners if badgers visit a garden or even a golf course. Damage from foraging is normally worse in the autumn months. The Badger Trust has an advice leaflet ‘Badgers in Gardens’ which gives tips on dealing with any problems.

 

** Please do not disclose sett locations outside of the group or post anything on social media about a sett location **