F.A.Q.
On this page we hope to answer a few of the most commonly asked questions.
Where do badgers live?
Where do badgers live?
Usually in an underground series of tunnels and chambers known as a Sett, and usually out in the countryside in areas of woodland and grassland, but occasionally they can be found in more unusual places such as old drain pipes or under buildings and more frequently within town boundaries.
What do they eat.?
Their absolute favourite is earthworms but depending upon the season and the availability of worms, they will eat more or less anything from berries, apples and nuts to small mammals such as rabbits as well as taking any opportunity to scavenge on any larger dead animals they come across. They are regarded as a carnivore but they are in fact a true omnivore.
Are they related to any other British mammals?
Yes they are a member of the Mustildae family which include otters, polecats, ferrets, stoats, weasels and pine martins.
Why do they need to be specially protected?
Badgers are not an endangered species in the usual sense, but they are a species in danger from humans, sometimes because of thoughtless acts, sometimes because of ignorance of their presence, sometimes accidentally when they are killed by motor vehicles. But worst of all when they are dug out of their setts to be baited by dogs or killed in some other barbaric way in the name of a sickening type of sport. It was the digging and baiting of badgers which brought about the need for the first Badger Protection Act in 1973 and other acts have followed to improve that protection.
Will they attack people?
Not unless they are cornered, or injured or protecting their young in which case they can inflict a very severe bite. Generally speaking they are a very shy animal and will always try to run away from humans if at all possible.
Why do you rarely see badgers?
Because they are nocturnal and prefer to live their lives at night while most of us are asleep. They have poor eyesight but tremendous hearing which has been estimated at something like five hundred times more acute than humans, and also a wonderful sense of smell which usually tells them that humans are about long before you get near to them and that gives them the chance to move away.
