BADGER DIGGERS - A determined bunch

[Little Mele]

Yesterday, I was called out to photograph a badger sett which had been attacked.

I couldn't believe the depth of the hole which had been dug. The ground was extremely rocky and difficult to dig and apparently the diggers had been back three times to finish off the job. Such was their determination to reach the prize.

So, eventually they reached the chamber and it doesn't take much imagination to guess what happened to the terrified badger.

In 2011, badger digging and badger baiting is still considered a rural past time by those of that ilk.

Will it ever die out? My thoughts today - highly unlikely

[The Woodman]

With such accuracy and from the apparent determination to succede in getting to that point, it is possible that the aim was to recover a terrier with a locater collar rather than "the prize". Only assumptions can be made.

Please don't get me wrong - I'm not supporting this activity at all - good luck with evidence gathering.

[PMG]

As Woodman says they probably needed to recover the dog which wouldn't come out if it had a badger at bay trapped in its sleeping den - the end result is the same tho - recover the dog and get the badger while down there .....

[Fauna]

Hi little mele...

When you say they had three attempts at digging the hole, what sort of time frame are we talking about between digs...also, did you take the rough size of the hole, depth and width?

Badger digging still goes on here in the valleys (though baiting is very rare), most where using the excuse of hunting Fox to cover themselves with the Badger scene. Though, not all the Badger setts that where/are interfered with are for the pursuit of Badger, many are after the Fox that will also reside in these setts...

The depth x width will occasionally give you an idea of what they where after, Badger being very formidable will usually warrant a larger hole to that for Fox. In some of the disturbed setts i've come across, every foot depth roughly corresponds to a foot wide. But i'm talking mostly colliery spoil here, easy digging.

Regards Chris...

[Little Mele]

These guys were on private land without the farmers permission. I cannot go into too much detail because the police were involved.

The hole was approximately one meter square by two metres deep. The ground was hard and stoney. And yes indeed the old chestnut was rolled out about the lost terrier. Which may or may not have been true.

Unfortunately and sadly, the area is well known for badger diggers, but I personally did not know the sett and therefore had to rely on what the farmer told me.

If the men were indeed after getting out their Patterdale, and not badgers, then I can understand their determination, but still they were on private land, without permission, with working dogs in an area with badger setts, caught digging down into a badger chamber, oh and were not from that area and had come for a "Walk" on the private land.

Under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, setts are protected and must not be interfered with, so in theory they were commiting an offence just by digging down into the sett.

As you probably know in a court case, it's up to the prosecution to prove that the culprits were hunting a wild mammal with dogs, beyond all reasonable doubt. Hence it is so important to have up to date, accurate, information on badger setts.

Terriers, whether working dogs, or not, are rascals and do get themselves into mischief, ie going to ground. I think Natural England have to issue a licence to get a dog out of a badger sett. So I am not adverse to this argument. It's only when a couple of other things get thrown into the equation, like spades and sacks and iron bars and locator collars, and terriers which do not bark, that I begin to have my doubts.

[The Woodman]

Setts are only protected when they are occupied. Many a case has failed when the prosecution has failed to prove the sett is active and in use.

From the Act - “badger sett” means any structure or place which displays signs indicating current use by a badger"

As you rightly say Little Mele, it is important to have up-to-date information on the status of setts for any realistic chance of proving disturbance, damage, etc.

[Little Mele]

My badger setts are visited regularly and on each visit photographs are taken. We also put up stealth cameras to record the badgers so we know without a shadow of a doubt that at that particular time, badgers are occupying the sett.

That said, Badgers do move around more than people think. Sometimes entrances become disused and other entrances created.

Some of my setts have become totally devoid of badgers and taken over by foxes.

When a badger occupies a sett, there are many vital signs. However, no-one is infallible, but any terrierman, worth his salt, when carrying out legal vermin control will recognise an active badger sett.

By legal vermin control, I mean flushing out with 2 dogs/one earth dog and despatching the fox with a gun.

We also have problems insomuch as some attending police officers are not familiar with recognising the signs of an active badger sett. The Wildlife Crime Officer obviously is, but of course they cannot be on duty 24/7 52 weeks of the year.

[The Woodman]

You may be aware of this offer and product - Titley Scientific are offering the Scout Guard GPRS trail camera at £216 inc VAT and delivery until Dec 31.

This model will send images to mobile phone by email or by SMS. Useful, eh?

[Little Mele]

Hi, thanks for that. Will take a look. Would be very useful to a badger group.

Just noticed your location in the Lake District. Coming up to Whinfell next week and hoping to get some photos of badgers and other wildlife. Was also thinking about Dodd Wood.

Any advice welcome !! Fingers crossed for good weather !!

[Lindsay-c]

Strongly dislike badger diggers/baiters. Among many people that I know do things they shouldn't concerning wildlife.
Would appeal to me if they were put into a lion pit and see how they like being dragged out of their home and maliciously attacked. Sick individuals.