Biodiversity Action Plan for the National Cycle Network ... - Sustrans
Biodiversity Action Plan for the National Cycle Network ... - Sustrans
Biodiversity Action Plan for the National Cycle Network ... - Sustrans
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
10.3 Badger Meles meles<br />
10.3.1 Description<br />
The badger is probably Britain’s most well known mammal, with its distinctive black<br />
and white face markings making it impossible to confuse. Badgers are nocturnal and<br />
<strong>the</strong>re<strong>for</strong>e rarely seen during <strong>the</strong> day. When inactive, badgers usually lie-up in a<br />
system of underground tunnels and chambers known as a sett. They live in social<br />
groups and each generally produces just one litter of two or three cubs in February.<br />
Although rarely seen, badgers leave a wide variety of field signs including <strong>the</strong> sett,<br />
which is recognised by having entrances approximately 300mm wide and 200mm<br />
high, often with piles of soil outside <strong>the</strong>m, ‘snuffle holes’ (holes dug by badgers when<br />
searching <strong>for</strong> invertebrates), ‘dung pits’ (small pits in which <strong>the</strong>y deposit <strong>the</strong>ir faeces)<br />
and day nests (nests of bedding material made by badgers <strong>for</strong> sleeping above<br />
ground).<br />
10.3.2 Optimum survey time<br />
Badgers can be surveyed <strong>for</strong> throughout <strong>the</strong> year, with <strong>the</strong> optimum time being<br />
February/March when <strong>the</strong>y are very territorially active and be<strong>for</strong>e <strong>the</strong> vegetation regrows,<br />
which can make surveying difficult.<br />
10.3.3 Current status<br />
The badger has a widespread distribution throughout <strong>the</strong> UK. Although badger<br />
populations are considered to be stable, various pressures have led to reductions in<br />
local populations, and in some cases extinction from areas. Badgers are not a UK<br />
BAP priority species.<br />
10.3.4 Status in relation to <strong>Sustrans</strong><br />
Badgers may be encountered throughout <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sustrans</strong> <strong>Network</strong>. They particularly like<br />
disused railway lines because <strong>the</strong>se provide opportunities <strong>for</strong> badgers to dig setts in<br />
dry, well-drained conditions.<br />
10.3.5 Legislation<br />
Badgers and <strong>the</strong>ir setts are protected by <strong>the</strong> Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as<br />
amended and <strong>the</strong> Protection of Badgers Act 1992 against damage or destruction of a<br />
sett or disturbance, death or injury to <strong>the</strong> badgers. The act defines a sett as “any<br />
structure or place which displays signs indicating current use by a badger”. This<br />
includes setts which appear unused at <strong>the</strong> time of <strong>the</strong> survey.<br />
Penalties <strong>for</strong> disturbance include fines of up to £5,000 plus up to six months in<br />
prison. Disturbance has been taken to include any digging activity or scrub clearance<br />
within 10 metres, any work, especially digging, within 20 metres using a wheeled<br />
machine up to <strong>the</strong> size of a JCB and any work within 30 metres by tracked vehicles or<br />
very heavy machinery.<br />
Licences to allow <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> disturbance of badgers, and even <strong>the</strong> destruction of <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
setts in certain circumstances, in relation to development are issued by <strong>the</strong><br />
Government’s statutory nature conservation agency (Natural England, Countryside<br />
Council <strong>for</strong> Wales, Environment and Heritage Service Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Ireland and Scottish<br />
<strong>Sustrans</strong>’ <strong>Biodiversity</strong> <strong>Action</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>National</strong> <strong>Cycle</strong> <strong>Network</strong> (December 2007)<br />
27