Garden Badger setts and the law?

Tobyh · #1 (**permalink**) 03-07-2008, 12:57 PM

Hi all,

I have new neighbours that have taken over a property previously owned by an elderly couple. The previous owners were not very mobile and their garden that backs on to my fence is heavily overgrown and definitely has foxes den there.

Having spoken to the new neighbour he made a comment about having "alot" of holes in the garden and wasn't sure if he was leaving the foxes there. Not happy about that and made a few suggestions..anyway...

Badgers! - Last few nights I have been lucky enough to have a Badger in my garden, drinking from the birdbath, hoovering up peanuts. This is rare - 1st time in 3 years I've seen him. Then it occured to me that my neighbour must have a sett in the garden - the Badger nips through the fence along a run used by all the animals.

I'm now concerned that he may consider trying to remove the sett. Due to the layout of the houses I don't see them easily to talk to so haven't been able to raise it with him. I'm not sure how to approach the situation to be honest. I don't want to end up on their ****list - no fun having neighbour wars.

Realistically I'm wondering about what the law can do / does do. If the sett is in a garden i'm guessing they probably don't know about it.

All the other neighbours around are animal lovers so i've made a point of saying im sure there's a sett there, hoping word will reach him.

Problem is..I cant be 100% sure that it's there until I see it.

Anyone faced this kind of thing before?

TobyH

mh68 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-07-2008, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tobyh

Hi all,

I have new neighbours that have taken over a property previously owned by an elderly couple. The previous owners were not very mobile and their garden that backs on to my fence is heavily overgrown and definitely has foxes den there.

Having spoken to the new neighbour he made a comment about having "alot" of holes in the garden and wasn't sure if he was leaving the foxes there. Not happy about that and made a few suggestions..anyway...

Badgers! - Last few nights I have been lucky enough to have a Badger in my garden, drinking from the birdbath, hoovering up peanuts. This is rare - 1st time in 3 years I've seen him. Then it occured to me that my neighbour must have a sett in the garden - the Badger nips through the fence along a run used by all the animals.

I'm now concerned that he may consider trying to remove the sett. Due to the layout of the houses I don't see them easily to talk to so haven't been able to raise it with him. I'm not sure how to approach the situation to be honest. I don't want to end up on their ****list - no fun having neighbour wars.

Realistically I'm wondering about what the law can do / does do. If the sett is in a garden i'm guessing they probably don't know about it.

All the other neighbours around are animal lovers so i've made a point of saying im sure there's a sett there, hoping word will reach him.

Problem is..I cant be 100% sure that it's there until I see it.

Anyone faced this kind of thing before?

TobyH

I think your new neighbour would have to get a special licence to destroy the sett. I`m not 100% clued up about the ins and outs of the relevant laws but i`m sure someone will be able to give more info.
I think youve done the right thing letting your other neighbours know about the possibility of there being a sett in the garden - the more people who know, the less likelihood of your new neighbour doing something rash.After all, having just moved in i`m sure he/she wont want to upset anyone either.
I would try explaining how fortunate they are to have these animals in their garden, despite any damage they may cause.There are a lot of people who would give anything to have their own garden Badger sett

Mark H

paulthomas · #3 (**permalink**) 03-07-2008, 04:04 PM

If you had a Badger sett next door I'm certain that you'd have had nightly evidence of them visiting your garden over a long period of time.

ellen h · #4 (**permalink**) 03-07-2008, 05:31 PM

It is illegal to interfere in any way with a Badger sett-filling in holes etc.To have a Badger sett moved involves a special license and costs a lot of money.Badgers cannot be moved willynilly as they are very territorial and it can be a death sentence if they are relocated anywhere near another active sett.
I would see if your local police had a wildlife liaison officer,or contact a local wildlife sanctuary if you can for advice.
If I am not mistaken a sett can be registered as active through a Badger Group,if you have one in your area.I know in Essex they have Essex Badger Groups around the county.Perhaps someone here can help further in this respect
Ellen