Badger Survey Case Study:

Protecting Wildlife in Bristol

Our client contacted us seeking advice, with concerns that badgers were using their garden as a sett. We offered to take on this small-scale project free of charge, in the interest of helping a local home-owner do the right thing for nature.

After visiting the site and surveying the surrounding area, we found no evidence of an active badger sett, although badgers were recorded passing through. Based on our findings, we were able to safely advise closing the tunnel in the client’s garden without affecting badger activity or commuting routes. The outcome was positive for both the client and local wildlife.

Project Overview

Our client got in touch with concerns that badgers were using their garden as a sett. Greg and Lara visited the site to determine whether it was indeed a badger sett or whether the badgers were simply using the garden as a commuting route.

Survey Objectives

To determine whether the badger tunnel was a sett
To find out whether the badger sett in the neighbouring garden was disused or active
To help advise the client the best course of action and to adhere to the The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 (the primary relevant legislation in England and Wales) which makes it illegal to wilfully kill, injure, take, possess, or cruelly treat a badger, or to damage, destroy, or obstruct access to a badger sett.

Services Provided

A hand-drawn graphic of the Luscinia Ecology Badger, representing our Badger survey provision.

Badger Surveys – Walkover Survey

Firstly, we undertook a walkover survey to look for signs of badger e.g. setts, faeces, paths, scratching posts, snuffle holes, day nests and hairs.

Badger Surveys – Trail Camera Deployment

We deployed a trail camera for 21 days to see whether badgers were using the sett in the neighbouring garden. The resulting footage showed showed activity from rodents, foxes, and cats, but no badgers entering or exiting.

Survey Results & Outcome

In this case, no badgers were recorded leaving or entering the sett, so we were able to confirm it to be disused. We provided an advice letter to the client showing our results and the next steps (should they wish to proceed).

We are pleased that our client approached us for advice rather than potentially causing harm to badgers, even if unintentionally. This allowed us to take the time to make an informed decision that the badgers were not using the sett and that closing the tunnel in their garden would cause no harm, while still allowing them to continue using the landscape and commuting through the area. A win for the client and a win for nature.

Related Resources

This image gives a preview of the badger survey infographic.

Simplifying Badger Surveys: An Infographic

This infographic provides a simplified overview of relevant UK legislation, why and when you might require a badger survey, as well as how we navigate seasonal and environmental constraints, helping to keep your project moving!

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