scottishbadgers
bringing together scotland's badger groups
How to Survey for Badgers
Identifying Setts
Many animals live in holes in the ground, each leaving distinctive clues at the scene to give away their identity. Holes vary greatly in size and shape, and while some are occupied permenantly others are on a temporary or seasonal basis. Often when one creature is not in occupation another is, and this is often the case with badger setts.Setts of differing sizes may be found within a clans territory, and are generally categorised by their occupancy status and are recorded as such.
This may seem a little complicated but the important thing to establish is whether it is a badger sett, and whether it is occupied. With a little practice badger setts can be quickly identified, and their occupancy established. Systematically cover all the ground in your area, particularly woodlands, hedgerows field edges and glens, then record your findings. Once you have the picture you can follow and record the movements and dynamics of your clan.
Note - Many 'badger experts' follow the theory of there being four categories of setts as described below. While not disagreeing with this theory, its worth while considering the opinion that where in the south of England there are dense populations of badgers in rich agricultural habitats this may be the case. The same, however, cannot be said of most of Scotland or some of the poorer quality forage areas where categories are less fixed. This alternative idea is shared by many but the arguments will go on and on! What we do know is that some of the badger clans are almost transient, possibly nomadic!! You can make up your own mind about the badgers near you.
Field notes to help identify Badger Setts:
Badger Holes
Badger sett entrances are oval in shape reflecting a badgers bulky low slung shape and measure about 250 - 300mm wide (foxes and rabbit holes are generally smaller and are taller than wide). A badger sett will have a spoil heap of soil mixed with bedding vegetation and guard hairs, forming a platform outside the hole.
Guard Hairs
Guard hairs are the hairs covering the badgers body and give it it's colouring. Here's a puzzle - is a badger black with white markings, or white with black markings? Guard hairs are extremely distinctive in their structure - around 70mm long, coarse texture almost wiry, oval in cross-section, silver tip, dark band approx 10mm near tip (this gives the badger its colour), main body of hair dirty white. Guard hairs are fairly conspicuous when examining spoil heaps, and their tell-tail oval shape is evident when rolled between the fingers.
Main Sett
Setts are divided into different categories depending on the number of holes and the level of occupation. The Main Sett is 'badger central', the focus of clan activity and their main place of residence. A main sett may have just a few holes, as little as two or three, or as many as twenty or thirty, or more. The spoil heaps are generally large and are a rough indication of the age of the sett. Well worn interconnecting tracks will be obvious between the holes and out into the territory and to nearby latrine areas. The main sett will show signs of continuous badger activity all the year round and, if a large sett, may house more than badgers at certain times of the year (foxes, rabbits, mice, rats, wasps, bees and so on). Foxes with cubs have been known to occupy a section of a large main sett, just a few meters from badger occupied holes at a time when doubtless there were badger cubs below ground.
Annexe Sett
An Annexe Sett can normally be found not too far away from the main sett, usually not more than 150m, and will be connected by well worn tracks. There may be several holes but these will not be continually occupied as the main sett. The annexe is usually occupied as an over-spill for the main sett.
Subsidiary Sett
Subsidiary Setts are normally found fairly close to the main sett, less than 50m. There are generally no connecting tracks and are used infrequently.
Outlier Sett
Outlying Setts are found dotted round the territory, often near the perimeter, and will be one or two holes. They don't usually have much of a spoil heap and will be taken over by foxes and rabbits when not in use. It is thought that these may be the stageing posts used by animals moving between territories.
Latrines
Only badgers make an open dung pit or 'latrine'. These consist of small a hole excavated in the ground with usual dark green/black musky smelling droppings of a uniform texture. Ther are usually more than one or two in the immediate vicinity. Latrines a found a various strategic places around the territory and act as a 'no tresspass' sign for other animals outside the clan.
Other Signs
There are many other signs left behind by badgers as they make their way about their territory. Be on the lookout for scratching posts near the setts, usually an Elder or dead tree used to stretch the tendons, or snuffle holes in the ground vegetation where they've found some tasty grub or root. Destroyed cowpats and wasps nests are good sign badgers have been after the grubs, they don't seem to mind the smell or the stings!
A left fore badger print, 50mm accross.
Tracks in mud and polished wire and wood where they climb through fences, and of course the give-away guard hairs caught on barbed wire. During the winter badgers don't hibernate but simply slow down, and their prints are easily seen in the snow making it easy to follow their movements and to discover what they are eating.
Data Recording
Brief details are all that are necessary for good records, and should not take more than a few moments to jot down. Download and use the Badger Sett and Badger Incident forms to record your findings. You can print the forms off as hard copy to use in the field, then send them in to this site. If your new to this and need assistance with map reading and grid referencing skills then get in touch with your local group who will be delighted to help.
Identifying Setts
Many animals live in holes in the ground, each leaving distinctive clues at the scene to give away their identity. Holes vary greatly in size and shape, and while some are occupied permenantly others are on a temporary or seasonal basis. Often when one creature is not in occupation another is, and this is often the case with badger setts.Setts of differing sizes may be found within a clans territory, and are generally categorised by their occupancy status and are recorded as such.
This may seem a little complicated but the important thing to establish is whether it is a badger sett, and whether it is occupied. With a little practice badger setts can be quickly identified, and their occupancy established. Systematically cover all the ground in your area, particularly woodlands, hedgerows field edges and glens, then record your findings. Once you have the picture you can follow and record the movements and dynamics of your clan.
Note - Many 'badger experts' follow the theory of there being four categories of setts as described below. While not disagreeing with this theory, its worth while considering the opinion that where in the south of England there are dense populations of badgers in rich agricultural habitats this may be the case. The same, however, cannot be said of most of Scotland or some of the poorer quality forage areas where categories are less fixed. This alternative idea is shared by many but the arguments will go on and on! What we do know is that some of the badger clans are almost transient, possibly nomadic!! You can make up your own mind about the badgers near you.
Field notes to help identify Badger Setts:
Badger Holes
Badger sett entrances are oval in shape reflecting a badgers bulky low slung shape and measure about 250 - 300mm wide (foxes and rabbit holes are generally smaller and are taller than wide). A badger sett will have a spoil heap of soil mixed with bedding vegetation and guard hairs, forming a platform outside the hole.
Guard Hairs
Guard hairs are the hairs covering the badgers body and give it it's colouring. Here's a puzzle - is a badger black with white markings, or white with black markings? Guard hairs are extremely distinctive in their structure - around 70mm long, coarse texture almost wiry, oval in cross-section, silver tip, dark band approx 10mm near tip (this gives the badger its colour), main body of hair dirty white. Guard hairs are fairly conspicuous when examining spoil heaps, and their tell-tail oval shape is evident when rolled between the fingers.
Main Sett
Setts are divided into different categories depending on the number of holes and the level of occupation. The Main Sett is 'badger central', the focus of clan activity and their main place of residence. A main sett may have just a few holes, as little as two or three, or as many as twenty or thirty, or more. The spoil heaps are generally large and are a rough indication of the age of the sett. Well worn interconnecting tracks will be obvious between the holes and out into the territory and to nearby latrine areas. The main sett will show signs of continuous badger activity all the year round and, if a large sett, may house more than badgers at certain times of the year (foxes, rabbits, mice, rats, wasps, bees and so on). Foxes with cubs have been known to occupy a section of a large main sett, just a few meters from badger occupied holes at a time when doubtless there were badger cubs below ground.
Annexe Sett
An Annexe Sett can normally be found not too far away from the main sett, usually not more than 150m, and will be connected by well worn tracks. There may be several holes but these will not be continually occupied as the main sett. The annexe is usually occupied as an over-spill for the main sett.
Subsidiary Sett
Subsidiary Setts are normally found fairly close to the main sett, less than 50m. There are generally no connecting tracks and are used infrequently.
Outlier Sett
Outlying Setts are found dotted round the territory, often near the perimeter, and will be one or two holes. They don't usually have much of a spoil heap and will be taken over by foxes and rabbits when not in use. It is thought that these may be the stageing posts used by animals moving between territories.
Latrines
Only badgers make an open dung pit or 'latrine'. These consist of small a hole excavated in the ground with usual dark green/black musky smelling droppings of a uniform texture. Ther are usually more than one or two in the immediate vicinity. Latrines a found a various strategic places around the territory and act as a 'no tresspass' sign for other animals outside the clan.
Other Signs
There are many other signs left behind by badgers as they make their way about their territory. Be on the lookout for scratching posts near the setts, usually an Elder or dead tree used to stretch the tendons, or snuffle holes in the ground vegetation where they've found some tasty grub or root. Destroyed cowpats and wasps nests are good sign badgers have been after the grubs, they don't seem to mind the smell or the stings!
A left fore badger print, 50mm accross.
Tracks in mud and polished wire and wood where they climb through fences, and of course the give-away guard hairs caught on barbed wire. During the winter badgers don't hibernate but simply slow down, and their prints are easily seen in the snow making it easy to follow their movements and to discover what they are eating.Data Recording
Brief details are all that are necessary for good records, and should not take more than a few moments to jot down. Download and use the Badger Sett and Badger Incident forms to record your findings. You can print the forms off as hard copy to use in the field, then send them in to this site. If your new to this and need assistance with map reading and grid referencing skills then get in touch with your local group who will be delighted to help.
Surveying for Badgers
"Holes vary greatly in size and shape, and while some are occupied permenantly others are on a temporary or seasonal basis." .
Contact Scottish Badgers
Use our online form or telephone: 01356 624851 (not permanently manned), or write to Scottish Badgers, 13, Eddie Avenue, Brechin, DD9 6YD
Scottish Badger Cruelty Line
Scottish badger cruelty line - 0870 240 4832. Please telephone to report badger cruelty. Up to £1000 reward for tip offs leading to conviction.
Want to get involved?
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