How many badgers are there in the UK? A survey published by DEFRA found 72,000 social groups of badgers in England and Wales. Other estimates suggest the population may be 250,000-400,000 individuals in the whole of the UK.
Are badgers protected in the UK?
Contents. Badgers and their setts (tunnels and chambers where they live) are protected by law . You may be able to get a licence from Natural England if you can't avoid disturbing badgers in their sett or damaging their sett.
Are Badgers endangered in the UK?
Badgers are protected not because they are rare or endangered , but because of illegal badger baiting, which involves digging out setts and using dogs. ... There were at least 64,000 main setts in England in 2013, compared to 31,500 in 1988.
Is killing badgers illegal in England?
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).
Is it illegal to destroy a badger set?
Under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 , it is an offence to damage, destroy or block access to a badger sett, or to disturb badgers in their setts.
Can I shoot a badger in my garden?
Badgers and their setts are a protected species by the law. This makes it illegal to kill, injure or interfere with them or their sett in any way, even if they are damaging your property.
Is a badger classed as vermin?
Badgers are often seen as pests ; the main complaints being that they eat poultry, roll in the corn and eat the grain, sometimes kill lambs, and occasionally eat partridge and pheasant eggs.
Do badgers abandoned setts?
Badgers live in a system of interconnected tunnels and chambers called a sett. ... Disused setts may be taken over by rabbits or by foxes, and both these species have been known to co-habit with badgers in occupied setts. In the chambers inside the sett, the badgers make nests in which they sleep.
How do you get rid of badgers legally?
A great way to deter badgers from entering your property is to construct a mesh fence that runs underground 12-18 inches deep so they cannot dig underneath. However, fencing that both surrounds your entire yard or property and extends far underground can get extremely expensive depending on the size of your land.
When can badger setts be closed?
Licences to exclude badgers and to close down or destroy a sett are only issued between 1 July and 30 November , other than in exceptional circumstances.
How fast can badgers run UK?
Their running or galloping speed ranges from 16-19 mph (25–30 kmph) .
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).
Do foxes dig under fences?
Good, secure and well maintained fencing is vital. Foxes and other predators only need to be able to dig a small hole under your fencing , or find a weak point where some of the wire has broken, to able to enter your run. ... If you dig it in, then that makes it much harder for foxes to create holes and burrow under.
What to do if you have a badger in your garden?
To stop badgers damaging your garden, the first step is to remove food sources . Don't leave out pet food dishes containing uneaten food, avoid filling bird feeders with peanuts and make sure food recycling bins are secure.
