Badger Surveys
Why might I need this?
Badgers and their setts are protected by law under the Protection of Badgers Act, 1992. It is illegal to intentionally capture, kill or injure a badger. It is also illegal to destroy or disturb their setts. If there is potential for badgers to be living on or passing through an area that you would like to develop, you may need a badger survey.
Survey calendar
Badger surveys can be undertaken at any time of the year but the optimum periods are February to April, or September to November when vegetation is less likely to obscure setts and signs, and badgers are more active.
What does it entail?
A badger survey usually begins with a site walkover looking for signs of badger such as setts, latrines, digging, snuffle holes and tracks. These signs may be observed during a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal.
It may then be necessary to confirm the presence of badgers on site which can be done using wildlife cameras and sand traps.
Report vaildity
********** Survey reports are valid for two years from the date of survey ????????
Did you know?
Badger setts can be more than a hundred years old with generations of badgers using them. A badger can travel up to 10 miles in a night looking for food.