Badger Surveys and Mitigation
Badgers are a nocturnal species, often forming social groups which mark out and defend their territory from neighbouring clans. They live in setts – underground networks of tunnels and chambers – and often there is more than one sett forming a clan’s territory. Badgers are found throughout Britain and Ireland but are particularly common in southern England, making them readily recognisable – Britain’s answer to enigmatic megafauna…
Suitable sett building territory is dependent on a number of factors, including food availability and soil type, and preferred sites are often where there is good cover (woodland, hedgerow and scrub) and sloping terrain. They can be found in rural and urban areas but tend to be more abundant where there is a good diversity of habitats which provide a year round food resource, such as woodland, pasture and arable land. Although badgers are relatively common and widespread, animal welfare concerns have led to legal protections which need to be considered when planning a development scheme.
