Badger watching?

[pet]

A message to anyone that can help.... At the weekend i visited a site to check up how the grass snake population was getting on. It was the first trip back for a couple of years and some new residents have moved in... There was always a good number of old rabbit warrens there but since the holes have become a whole lot bigger, i'm convinced they are badgers as i think fox's dont have so many entrance/exits and are smaller than these. I plan a dusk trip to sit and wait with my cammera and see what i get. If it is badgers is there a recomended time to go and distance to be? will they become aggresive or just not show if i'm detected? so many questions. Thanks.

[pheonix]

firstly you should definatly check they are badger holes, some rabbit warren entrances becme rather large over time, if the tunnels taper in to smaller ones further on then they are rabbit. try and find badger hair in the entrance.
if they are badger then follow all general wildlife watching rules; dark clothing, be still, down wind etc (see other posts). But if they do detect that you are there they will not show.

[paulthomas]

Badgers are by nature extremely timid creatures and you should do everything possible to avoid frightening them. Lots of advice and info here

[Adam]

I have never viewed them, but hope to. I think the most important thing to not disturb badgers is to stay quiet, and downwind from them so they cannot smell your presence.

[midnightfox]

We have badgers living in our woodland. Here's some advice: We watch badgers from a seat up in a tree but because presumably you do not own the area you are talking about this may not be possible. If it is ,if there is a suitable tree in the area and if it is close enough to the badger set a seat is the best thing for watching badger setts because there is less chance of you disturbing them and more chance for you that you will see them.
It can however be quite difficult to build a seat and it may of course not be possible at all.
If so instead you could try and get into a tree, as the badgers are less likely to scent you if you are higher up. If you can't sit up in a tree choose somewhere sheltered and if possible above the badger set to sit. Always make sure you are somewhere were the wind is blowing towards you,away from the badger sett not away from you,towards the badger sett because if so the badgers will scent you. If they do scent you it is still possible you will see them briefly, coming out of a hole, sniffing and then going back underground.
The badgers near us come out always about 8:30, 9:30 depending how quiet we are, the light, the weather conditions etc, but obviously I don't know what time the badgers near you will come out! They usually however emerge at around dusk though they may come out earlier or later, depending on how quiet the area is. It is best to go when it is still fairly light so you can get into position without scaring them.
If you have got badgers and manage to succesfully watch them you have a good chance of seeing badger cubs in very late May/June(possibly later than June-I'm not sure exactly what time cubs start to come out)!
Good Luck!
Sorry about the monster post-but this is my first post and I enjoy helping people

[Adam]

Wow thanks, a real badger expert.

[eeyore]

and if they are badgers don't give the location out incautiously, there are a lot of sick and twisted people out there who's interest is far from innocent.

[pet]

cor thanks for the tips and advise so far, in the middle of a move at the mo, as soon as the sun comes bck out and the dust has settled from moving home i'l be sure to put this newly learnt wisdom into practice, ps in reply to midnightfox's climbing tip there are plenty of good trees on site and i am partial to shining up trees thanks again, be keeping you posted.