European Badger

European Badger
Meles Meles

Badgers are the largest terrestrial predator in the UK and among the country’s most recognisable mammals. Noted for their distinctive black-and-white facial markings and stocky build, they use powerful forelimbs to excavate for food and to create and maintain their distinctive burrows, known as setts.

The European badger (Meles meles) is widespread across the UK, found in woodlands, hedgerows, pasture, parkland and increasingly in suburban areas, with higher densities in England and Wales and lower numbers in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland; they live in communal underground sett systems - sometimes extensive, multi-entranced burrows - occupied by social groups that maintain and expand setts over generations.

Omnivorous and opportunistic, badgers forage mainly at night for earthworms (a staple of their diet), beetles and other invertebrates, supplemented by small mammals, fruits, cereals and garden food when available.

A badger survey may be required for development or land‑use change because setts and breeding individuals are protected under UK law. Works that damage, destroy or disturb setts can be a criminal offence; identifying sett locations and understanding badger activity helps inform mitigation, licensing and timing of works to avoid legal breaches and reduce ecological impact.

When might I need a Badger Survey?

- Proposals involving creation or removal of ponds, drainage changes or alterations to watercourses that might affect badger foraging or sett hydrology

- Proposals involving creation or removal of ponds, drainage changes or alterations to watercourses that might affect badger foraging or sett hydrology

  • Sites within or adjacent to protected or sensitive ecological areas where cumulative impacts on badgers need assessment

  • Prior to demolition, redevelopment or clearance of buildings where badgers are known to use structures or adjacent cavities

  • When ecological desk studies or records searches indicate historical badger presence in the locality

  • During pre-commencement condition discharge where planning conditions require an updated badger survey prior to works starting

  • When mitigation or design decisions (e.g., realignment of foundations, access routes, lighting or fencing) depend on presence/absence or location of setts

  • Planning application for new development, change of use, or significant site alteration where badger setts could be disturbed

  • Groundworks or vegetation clearance (e.g., digging, piling, trenching) within or adjacent to suitable badger habitat

  • Construction of roads, driveways, foundations, landscaping earthworks or services that may damage or block sett entrances

  • Development within 30-50 metres of known or suspected badger activity, or where badger foraging routes cross the site

  • Land whose use will change to more intensive activity (e.g., recreational facilities, housing, commercial units) increasing disturbance risk

  • Works requiring a licence from Natural England (e.g., where sett disturbance or closure is unavoidable) - a survey is needed to support any licence application