Badger Watch Schemes
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Importantly, very many Badger Groups now have effective Badger
Watch schemes. These may be run solely by the local Badger Group or
another interested party, but commonly involve liaison with the local Police
Wildlife Liaison Officers.
Whilst setts located deep in remote uninhabited woodland are
difficult to watch; these are often relatively safe due to their
remoteness. Other relatively safe setts, are those located in ground
with very large rocks and most "artificial" setts build by
badger groups.
Setts in very prominent, well-seen locations tend to be relatively
safe too; because even a particularly moronic badger baiter will not
wish to risk being seen by many local residents (even if he already has
a criminal record; he probably won't want the £5,000 fine that goes
with a conviction for badger baiting).
The setts at highest risk of being attacked are those which are near
to public roads, without too far to walk or climb, without houses nearby
and with ground that is easy to dig with shovels and picks. Often these
setts are protected by installing wire-mesh overlays and concrete
pipe-work and nesting chambers; and are regularly patrolled by friendly
badger-watchers. Increasingly, many badger groups are acquiring
night-site equipment which allows them to see badger baiters and
poachers in total darkness. High-risk setts will also be known to the
Police WLO, and may even be programmed into the digital maps stored in
Police Helicopters.
As the efforts of the badger baiters increase, more and more badger
setts are being protected with concrete ceilings, coining the colloquial
phrase "badger bunkers"!
Badger Survey informs planning in Aberdeen
While planners in Aberdeen had long been aware of the protection
afforded to badgers and their setts under the Badgers Act 1992, lack of
information about the location of badgers in the city made it difficult
to give them adequate consideration when dealing with development
proposals. The Council therefore enlisted the help of SNH to undertake a
badger population survey. The completed survey has provided the Planning
Department with details of setts and foraging areas to inform
plan-making and development control decisions.
In our view this was a superb idea; as for the time being it allows the
decision makers in Aberdeen to make decisions based on accurate evidence, as
opposed to the sometimes sporadic mention of badgers which can be made in other
localities.
For more information, please refer to:
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