Badger Sett Translocation

BETTS ECOLOGY CASE STUDY: MOVING BADGERS

Background

Badgers are very common, but they and their occupied setts are protected in law. Avoiding impacts on them is always the preferred option but sometimes, as in this case which is one of many Betts Ecology have undertaken, they have to be moved to a new home.

Client & Location

Major International Engineering Company – English Midlands

Operations

Betts Ecology carried out site surveys (setts, trails, latrines & other badger signs, faecal marker territory mapping, badger population determination, artificial sett design and construction (see photos), licence application, implementation and reporting, sett closure and translocation, scientific records, monitoring and site aftercare.

Outcome

Badgers were successfully resettled by Betts Ecology in the artificial sett freeing the old sett area for development; accomplished outside the main badger reproductive season so no impact on actively breeding animals or cubs; configuration and tunnel/chamber data from closed sett added to our database for future reference; ongoing monitoring to ensure suitable actions in case of any long-term issues (none in this case).