Badger stories

[Meles meles]

Hi all,

Sorry Its a bit delayed but I wanted to share my experience with you.

I have spent a few years keenly studying Mammals, Badgers in particular. If i may say so myself I have become rather knowledgeble purely by reading and observing for myself. Have seen a few in the past but nothing compares to now adays....

In the last couple of months Myself and mum stumbled across a very well established sett. It had clearly been there for many years and to date still very active, The woodland was a perfect location, It only took minutes to figure out as too which enterances are reguarly used etc.

Over the next couple of weeks I spent days studying the local woodland, Badger trails and obvious feeding grounds and latrines. By evening I was sitting in various locations watching the Badgers. Most locations was as i had predicted, The one i did not was six feet away from my tent. How surprised was I, first night and I didnt even have to wait to see confirmation, It was like an invitation. The following nights as i said I was in various different fields, trees etc In wait. It took me a couple of days to realise that due to the location and lack of humans etc. These Badgers came above ground early, out as early as half four on one particular day. How lucky was I ??? Didnt even have to wait till late evening. During these moments I can honestly say I have been feet away from cubs & adults playing and eating, One evening I even followed one for about half an hour. If it was not for a private farm I would have continued.

As great as it was watching the Badgers nightly I had still not managed to get a picture so on the last morning, I chose my spots carefully (a couple because depending on the winds later I would decide on arrival). Even spread a few nuts etc around the immediate area.

So any way that evening i sat amongst some nettle and ferns head to toe in camo and in a still cold position waited with my camera. Only having a basic camera I was nervousily rather close but determined. I was only waiting for a couple of hours before two mice ran out the sett enterance and then bingo as before the first Badger appeared. Then for the next hour one by one Badgers appeared, all with a similar behaviour. Each time two mice ran out first as if to warn me and then returned to the sett when the individual badger had made its exit.

During that hour as quick as i took photos, quicker it became darker. I must have taken at least a hundred photo's Just to have a couple half decent ones But well worth it. Having got dark I sat there watching two cubs play for a litte while untill their mum came to take them on their travels. Two things on my shopping list - Night vision and the best camera I can afford.





Meles meles

[jennyb]

What a great story. You have obviously become quite an expert. I love the photo with the badger just peeping out of the sett.

I could use some tips because I know there are badgers in the woods surrounding my garden. I have even found a hole which I am almost certain is a sett. However, I can't spend hours and hours waiting and watching - just no time.

I know they are around because I have seen them when driving home in the dark. I am desperate to get a photo. Any suggestions?

Jenny

[demicav]

A lovely account of your time with the Badgers, a pleasure to read. You are very lucky as I've never seen a Badger. So many crimes are commited against these wonderful creatures, it's terrible but thanks to people like you studying them people can be better educated and hopefully it will lead to a better understanding all round. Well done and keep the photos coming.

Lorraine.

[goosey]

I was going to say lucky, lucky Meles Meles! But it wasn't luck at all it was patience, patience and more patience with determination thrown in for good measure. I am so pleased you were rewarded for your efforts - well done and great photo .

[Meles meles]

Firstly apologies, I dont get much oppurtunities to use the net, Only at my mums
Thanks for your words, having seen other superb badger photos (check cannys for example) I was a little reluctant to show mine. I put it up only as an accompanient to my story.

I have to admit I do spend alot of time, days off etc visiting certain setts, Have learnt from my mistakes, by my findings and from books. If life was but a dream I would give my right arm to live in the rural locations that others describe, Could not even begin to imagine having a sett in or close to my property. My left arm I would give to live and work in these areas studying badgers and other mammals. as well as coppacing etc.
One of my main problems is finding somewhere to camp the night when i do go on my journeys, for that reason at times i have been known to spend all evening and the night trying to track and observe badgers. Its amazing the things you see some times.

We can learn so much from those we humans see as an inferior living thing.

As a continuation to my stories, i have another short one....
At the same location and in the same time as i wrote my last story about the following happened.....
One of the many nights i sat in a tree close to a sett watching its enterances things were not as i planned. I did not know it but my family of badgers had already left for their night of feasting and explorations. I had sat in my tree for hours before i was about to give up, sometimes being stubborn does not pay. It was only when i saw one of the elder badgers walking down a path that it dawned on me. By this time it was dark, too dark to be walking around and late. As i was returning to camp I heard the noises of two cubs playing in the woods. Determined to see them i walked through the woods, The noises stopped, blindly i continued finding almost every low hanging branch in the way. As i stood there in complete darkness I could here movement in front of me, At this particular location the floor is thick with foot high wild garlic plants. I could see in two different places the plants were moving or more the point some one was moving them. It was like something out of the jaws movies. What ever it was there was two of them both in front but one more to the right and the other to the left, as they got closer i recognised the sounds of them sniffing at the ground and the occasional snapping sound as they feed on meal worms. I froze with my camera ready (pointless being so dark) what seemed thirty seconds later I was standing there looking down at this cub almost a foot away from me, This whole time the cub didnt even look up. As i was watching this one i had not noticed the other beside me, Taking me completely by surprise I lost my balance making a twig snap underneath me. Both the cubs looked up unsure of what they cant really see they continued a little past me before their mum appeared behind me, she called and the three of them walked off into the night.

A couple of photos of the cubs, not great, but shows the cubs literally standing in front of me.



As i wrote in my last story, night vision is a must have. on my wages though

[demicav]

You're very lucky to be so close to the cubs. Another good story. I really enjoy seeing your pics and reading all about your Badger encounters. Keep them coming.

[Meles meles]

Thanks Demicav.

JennyB I will send you a pm shortly that will hopefully help you be sure that the badgers are using that particular enterance. Ok sure they are around your area but its possible that they have their sett even a mile or more away from where you see them.

Look forward to hearing from you

Steve

[canny]

Well done Meles, I really admire your determination. Great photos. Very brave to be out in the dark woods.......sounds a bit scary to me.
I hope you manage to get the equipment you need very soon, you deserve it. Have you tried looking at second hand gear in photographic shops etc?
Cheers
Canny

[Monkster]

Hi Meles Meles
I've just been reading your Badger watching account and really enjoyed it.
It really does show the patience and dedication needed and I am really pleased that you were rewarded with some lovely photos. I like them because you can actually see the conditions you were up against and even the fleeting glance of the badger made it worth while and made me feel like I was there. And I loved the one of the Badger looking straight at you!
I agree with canny, very brave being out there on your own.
I look forward to your reading your next installment!!

[stripee]

Hello Meles meles, I love your photos.
I have a night vision scope from Tchibo which is a sort of catalogue for household goods. It costs around £70. http://www.tchibo.co.uk although I think the badgers can see the red light, although I thought they couldn't. I dropped my previous one on a rainy night and it was outside until dawn by which time it was fused and useless. Now I'm very careful with the new one!