bad pic's ?

[doofer]

i have found a badger set in dense undergrowth. getting pictures is very hard because it so dark when they come out at dusk !
also got 3 fox cubs running around the same area.
all my pics are very dark and blurd.
if set up a lamp will this scare them from coming out ?
maybe red filter over the lamp ?
any sugestions ?
i find it very hard focusing on them because its so dark !

thanks.

[PMG]

Badgers which are being fed don't usually react to light in our experience - nor flash on the camera. If you visit the sett regularly and put peanuts and soaked sultanas down they get used to your smell and if nothing bad happens and they get free food then lighting them up with - say and 8watt caravan or boating fluo tube run off a battery or power pack won't bother them.

My only concern about using lighting is can it be seen from roads or houses? The sett we've watched for the last 12 years is very close to the road and when we hear a car coming we switch off the light. In recent years we have not used light at all but turned up well before dusk and hoped that they come out while it is still light - if you have thrown food onto the sett and some has gone down the holes I reckon they smell this in their sleep and it brings them out to eat sooner! Its only a theory!

Using flash on the camera only causes a moments concern with 'our' badgers - they soon ignore repeat flash so long as you are not firing off a volley of flashes. If you let them get out and get their heads down in the food before trying to take any shots they may stay in front of you unconcerned - course they are all individuals and any reaction is possible!

Good luck

Pauline

PS I've always sent a letter in to the Police headquarters once a year telling them we will be badger watching and photography in the area and give them my car reg. This prevents folk suspecting you're baiting or digging from reporting you as suspicious! We had two lots of police turn up on blue lights to us one time in Wales many years ago - the county car responded and the local bobby came within minutes of each other. We by that time had come away from the sett and were just making a brew on the Bluet before heading home! We invited them to look in the car for spades or terriers and offered them a cup of tea!!!! It was quite funny but I was glad to see they took the report seriously and came to see. One lot had just left when I looked in the distance and saw blue lights - I said to Ian whats the betting they are coming for us? He said Nah - but sure enough - we were investigated twice!!! When the second lot went I said lets sup up and get gone before anymore turn up!!!