How do you tell a badger apart?
How to tell the difference between male and female badgers. Males can generally be distinguished from females by their broader, more domed heads, fuller cheeks and thicker necks. Tails are a less reliable guide – males typically have thinner, whiter tails; females shorter, broader ones.
Are badgers aggressive UK?
Badgers are usually wary of humans. In most cases, a badgers’ first reaction to danger is to escape into the nearest sett . If cornered, individual animals may be more aggressive.
Why is it illegal to kill badgers in the UK?
Badgers are protected and so are the setts (burrows) they live in. Under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, in England and Wales (the law is different in Scotland) it is an offence to: Wilfully kill, injure or take a badger (or attempt to do so).
Where are badgers found in the UK?
Badgers are found across the UK, with the highest numbers in southern England. Ideal badger habitat is a mixture of woodland and open country. The species lives in a network of underground burrows and tunnels know as a sett. Each badger territory will include a main sett and several smaller outlying setts.
How can I tell if I have badgers in my garden?
Evidence of badgers in your garden
- Dug up spots in your lawn or flower beds – this is evidence of the badger looking for grubs that live in the soil.
- Partly eaten fruits, vegetables or bulbs – if the badger can’t find any grubs, it’ll move onto the next available food source.
What time do badgers come out?
However, the overall picture is that badgers generally leave the sett around dusk and return before sunrise when it begins to get light. Badgers do not hibernate but are less active during the winter.
What can I do about badgers in my garden?
Clean up any bird seed spills before nightfall and keep feeders well away from objects that badgers could climb. Spot control – if you’ve noticed the badgers are only digging for food in specific areas, these should be your areas of focus. Firmly secure chicken wire against these patches of lawn to stop them digging.
What to do if you hit a badger?
Badgers are a protected species and it’s illegal to ‘possess’ one dead or alive, so don’t try to remove it from the scene you hit one. If you’re worried about leaving it, report it to the police on 101.
What smells do badgers hate?
Citronella Oil – badgers really dislike the smell of citronella. Applying it to the bottom of fences and around entrances may be enough to keep them away (unless they are particularly hungry).
Can you remove badgers from your garden?
How to Get Rid of Badgers. Badger control in gardens can be challenging. Many recommend deeply set metal fences that prevent the animal from digging under. Electric fencing is also another option but this can be costly and harm domestic pets and other wildlife.
Is it rare to see a badger?
Most people have seen a dead badger on the roadside but it is not surprising that so many of us have never watched a badger in the wild. Watching badgers has never been so easy because despite attempted culls, the UK badger population has increased by 76% over the past 16 years.