Young badger out in the open in the early evening

[richnfamous]

I was out with a friends dog (an English Setter) on some familiar farmland - pasture - in late June. He's fine with wildlife and always comes back when I call him (except with squirrels)...and anyway he's not fast enough to catch anything. It was about 6pm.

Suddenly he shot off to the middle of a field where there was a something-or-other which was obscured by a dip in the land. It turned out to be a young badger who was none too pleased with the attention! The badger just stayed on the spot, growling at the dog. He's been seen off by a group of badgers before so he knows to keep his distance.



Having called the dog off, I went over to investigate as it looked like the badger was staying in one place, which made me think that he might be caught on something. Someone (%$£%^!!) snared a beautiful big dog-fox not so long ago close to this spot.

It was quite a small badger and he wasn't stuck or anything: but he wasn't going to move either. He (?) let me get very close, growling now and then:



Anyway, he looked OK so I left him to it.

I've never seen a badger in the middle of a field in the daylight. It goes against every other experience I've had with them - they're nocturnal, shy and gregarious and prefer a bit of cover.

Does anyone here have any ideas about what it was doing there? I'm guessing that it might have been driven out of its group by the alpha male or female, as it appeared to be in good health.

[Marcia]

Sounds like the badger is in need of some assistance, he could have a broken leg or something that is making him immobile. Could you contact your local Badger Trust ?

I'm sure someone experienced in badgers will reply you soon.

Good luck.

[richnfamous]

Originally Posted by Marcia

Sounds like the badger is in need of some assistance, he could have a broken leg or something that is making him immobile. Could you contact your local Badger Trust ?

I'm sure someone experienced in badgers will reply you soon.

Good luck.

He was in fine form...and this was back in June, so it's a bit late.

[Marcia]

Oh sorry, I missed the bit where it says it was in June... I thought it was yesterday

Nice picture btw.

[richnfamous]

Here's another:



Is this a threat posture?

[valleyforge]

Originally Posted by richnfamous

Is this a threat posture?

The posture is more defensive than aggressive ... mustelids will rarely initiate aggression, but because their 'inner self' is considerably bigger than their actual self, they are quite willing and able to do battle if need be.

In your third photo, it looks somewhat like the right eye may be damaged ... compare it with the left eye in your second photo and you'll see how it should look.

Did the badger appear to follow you with head movements as you and the dog approached and circled to take the pictures ... or was it 'frozen' in this same posture?

If the latter, then the animal may be visually impaired and was out foraging for food using its keen sense of smell, and perhaps unaware that it was broad daylight.

[richnfamous]

Originally Posted by valleyforge

In your third photo, it looks somewhat like the right eye may be damaged ... compare it with the left eye in your second photo and you'll see how it should look.

The eyes - in fact the whole animal - appeared to be healthy and normal. Here's another pic:

Originally Posted by valleyforge

Did the badger appear to follow you with head movements as you and the dog approached and circled to take the pictures ... or was it 'frozen' in this same posture?

It was very aware of my presence and alert, and most certainly ready and able to defend itself. I'm mystified as to why it was out in the open like that.

[valleyforge]

Originally Posted by richnfamous

The eyes - in fact the whole animal - appeared to be healthy and normal.

You're right ... in that photo both eyes look perfectly normal ... must just have been a spurious light reflection in the previous shot.

Young badgers are occasionally spurned from the sett for their indiscretions and head off to establish their own territories ... but normally they'd do that under cover of darkness, or at least nearer to dusk.

Perhaps there was some disturbance at the sett which made the occupants exit early ... hard to know for sure really.

[richnfamous]

Originally Posted by valleyforge

Young badgers are occasionally spurned from the sett for their indiscretions and head off to establish their own territories ... but normally they'd do that under cover of darkness, or at least nearer to dusk.

That's what I think must have happened. I've never heard of anything similar. I've been close to badgers before, either deliberately while watching them, or having them come crashing past me while they're in the middle of a fight, but that's always been at dusk or at night.