This page looks at badger ecology from a European perspective with some short videos of badgers (taken in Bialowieza Forest forest).

 

Badgers are medium-sized carnivores that inhabit most parts of the European continent. Typical habitats utilized by badgers are forests and a mosaic of woodland and open habitats (pastures and fields). Badgers are social animals, living in groups (clans) numbering up to 20 individuals. Clan members occupy common territories, the boundaries of which are regularly visited and marked (in special latrines). Badgers are nocturnal predators and their main food is earthworms and insects, amphibians and plant material (fruits, maize and cereals).

During their nocturnal activity, badgers forage on food patches rich in earthworms and mark territory boundaries (see video 1). During day-light badgers rest in their burrows called setts, which are an integral part of their territories. Apart from main setts, used for reproduction, winter sleep and as a main shelter, in their territories badger utilize other setts (temporary and outlier). In their setts, badgers spend the larger part of the day and winter asleep, which in north-eastern Europe is up to 5 months long.  Badgers carefully select the locations of their setts, which are utilized for many badger generations - even for hundreds years. Badger setts are characteristic and can be distinguished from dens of other denning carnivores such as red foxes and raccoon dogs.

 

Video 1: Badger foraging

 

Video 2: Badgers at sett

 

Video 3: Badger cubs

 

Characteristic look

1. large number of entrances (usually over 3)
2. presence of large spoil heaps (see photo 1);
3. characteristic tunnel going through spoil heaps (see photo 2);
4. well visible paths going from sett entrances (see photo 3);
5. signs of bedding dragging (see photo 4);
6. signs of utilization from spring to autumn (and winter in warmer climate)

Important: Red fox dens have usually 1-2 entrances, which are utilized mainly during breeding period (April-June). Raccoon dogs do not dig their own dens, they usually occupy badger setts in winter and during breeding period.

 

Characteristics of sett surrounding

1. presence of latrines (holes with faeces)
2. foraging holes;
3. lack of prey remains;

Important: Differently than in bader setts, in the vicinity of fox dens we can find prey remains (feathers, dead birds, bones of ungulates etc).

 

Tracks and faeces

Badgers are tracks very characteristic, wide with finger prints lying in one row, with well visible claw marks (see Figure 1 to compare with other denning carnivores). Badger faeces are dark, round in shape or shapeless deposited in holes (latrines). Red fox scats looks different, are rounded from one end and sharp from the second. Raccoon dog scats are of different coloration, usually deposited in large latrines.

 

Photo 1	Photo 2	Photo 3	Photo 4

 

Figure 1. Comparison of badger, dog and fox tracks.

Badgers start their activity usually before the dusk and they return to their setts at dawn. It is possible to observe them when emerging from their setts. The best period for that is from May till July. Badgers emerge from their setts usually between 19.00 and 20.00. May is the month when cubs start to emerge from the sett and play around, so it is easy to see and count them (see video 3).

 

How to watch the badgers?

• Knowledge of badger sett locations may be collected from landowners, foresters or hunters. Setts are occupied by successive generations of badgers, so their locations are often well known.
• Before watching badgers, it is necessary to visit the sett to check terrain configuration, find all active sett entrances, find a good position for watching (20-30 m away from sett), with a good view of all sett entrances. It is better not to disturb a sett on the day you want to watch badgers.
• It is necessary to take position at the sett before the badgers start their activity. Best is to stay at sett from 18.00 till the dark.
• During watching it is important to sit still and make no noise. It is good to stay down wind as badger sense of smell is very good - when emerging from sett badgers are snorting and sniffing around (see video 2).
• It is possible to use a special ladder with seat to watch badgers. It reduces probability of being detected by badgers and improves visibility for all sett entrances. In case of unsuccessful watching, the observation should be repeated.
• When watching badgers, count number of adults and cubs (see video 3) and time of their emergence. Remember that not all badgers emerge at the same time, so don’t leave the position too early.
• On the basis of main sett density and number of badgers inhabiting the sett it is possible to estimate badger density, mean group size and mean litter size.