Day 22: Today’s 30 Days Wild is Close up Monday and we are focusing on the UK’s largest predator, Badgers! In 2019 David and I had the wonderful opportunity of watching wild badgers by partaking in an event at RSPB Haweswater. For as little as £12 pp (if you are a member), you can spend up to 90 minutes with these elusive yet iconic animals.
I am sure you local wildlife trust or RSPB site has a similar event, check out their website for more details.
Badger (Meles meles) Facts:
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- Badgers are mammals and sometimes are called brocks
- They are common throughout Britain
- They live in family groups underground called setts, and some setts can be 100 years old, being passed down from generation to generation
- Badgers are part of the Mustelid family (otters and ferrets)
- They grow to one metre in length
- They are crepuscular (active dawn/dusk)
- Playing and scent marking strengthens social bonding
- Badgers can live up to 14 years though five to eight years is more optimistic
- Females can have up to five cubs a litter and most cubs are born mid February, and will emerge above ground after 12 weeks
- Up to 50,000 badgers are killed each year on UK roads
- Badgers are omnivores but 60% of their diet are earthworms
- They are the only predator of the hedgehog
Have you seen a wild badger?
Thanks for reading, and stay wild!
Christine x
Further Reading:
Badger Trust: https://www.badgertrust.org.uk/badgers
RSPB: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/other-garden-wildlife/mammals/badger/
Wildlife Trusts: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/mammals/european-badger
The Woodland Trust:https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/08/badgers-what-do-they-eat-and-other-facts/
Christine Lucas 
I have done two badger watches and I loved both of them and would go again.
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I did the badger watch too and would definitely go again. 🙂 X
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