Badger / Broc / Meles meles

Badger

Did you know?

• Member of the weasel family, Mustelidae like the stoat, mink and otter.
• Badgers live in an underground tunnel system called a sett, which they dig out with their powerful claws.
• One sett is home to a family of typically 5 or 6 badgers, sometimes up to 15.
• Setts have 3-10 entrances so they can leave and enter without being seen.
• Each sett will defend a territory covering 60-200 hectares.
• Badgers are omnivores and eat whatever is available.  The main diet consists of earthworms, slugs and beetles but they also eat small animals (frogs, mice, hedgehogs), fruit and berries.
• Hearing and scent are more important than sight to a badger.
• Badgers live for over 10-12 years.
• Badgers are protected under the Wildlife Act.

What to watch for:

Size:

• Short, fat bodies growing to about 90cm in length, with short legs (built for digging).
• Males (boars) weigh up to 17kg, females (sows) up to 12kg.

Coloration:

• Easily recognisable