Badger Survey
Badger survey from licenced ecologists
If you see signs of badger activity on a potential development site, or evidence of badgers of any kind, you will need to conduct a badger survey in order for your development to continue.
A badger survey and report from a licenced ecologist can help ensure your project can go ahead as planned. This is because badgers are protected in the UK under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, which means disturbing the animals in any way, or destroying setts, is against the law. A badger survey and report will be needed to apply for planning permission if there is any chance badger habitats will be affected by a proposed development.
Get in touch today to arrange a badger survey on 01865 893346 or get a free quote.
What is included in a badger survey?
A badger survey includes everything you will need to inform local planning authorities of the situation and put in place mitigation strategies on how best to progress. Planning officers use the results of a badger survey to help decide whether or not to grant planning permission, and also to inform your licence application with Natural England (if needed).
A badger survey will:
Locate and identify different types of badger sett on site
Establish the importance and use of each badger sett
Provide information on the mitigation required, such as creating new badger habitats or building a new sett
Badger mitigation services from Ecology by Design
Ecology by Design will work with you to find suitable solutions and provide mitigation measures to be included in your badger survey report. Your survey will provide useful information on what development is allowed, and the scope of the restrictions or licences required.
Badger survey methodology and examples
Signs of badger habitats and signs of badger activity are often established via ecological scoping or a preliminary ecological appraisal, both of which are ecological services we offer here at Ecology by Design. Signs of badger activity can include signs of feeding, footprints, badger trails and more.
The data found can establish whether a full badger survey is required. Evidence of badgers such as badger holes, droppings, and other signs of activity can help determine the presence of badgers and how their habitats will be potentially impacted by your development. In complex developments, a more extensive survey looking at bait marking may be required, in order to establish the full extent of the animals' territories.
If a badger survey is needed, then a badger survey report is a required document that can help ensure you are granted planning permission.
For more information, read our extensive badger survey guide or contact us to chat with one of our ecologists.
Badger survey information and FAQs
Are badgers protected?
Badgers, badger habitats and badger setts are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. This means that, by law, if you suspect badger activity on a development site, the right steps must be taken to avoid unnecessary interference or disturbance of their habitat.
Why are badgers protected?
Badgers received some legal protection in 1973 aimed at trying to curb the impacts of badger baiting. however this practice was still a big problem and as a result the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 was introduced to strengthen the protection. This has resulted in greater protection and in many areas of the country badger populations have recovered.
Where are badgers commonly found?
Badgers are found through much of the UK with a general reduction in population as you move north. Badgers will inhabitant a wide range of habitats but are most commonly associated with broadleaved woodland, copses and hedgerows, however many can be found within towns and cities living within gardens and areas of scrub.
Do badgers live in groups?
Because badgers live in clans, this can be a complicated process. Badgers can't just move into another clan's sett. Every clan of badgers resides in a main badger sett, as well as other setts such as annexe, subsidiary or outlying setts with the main one in continual use and the rest sporadically.
If the development may impact the main sett, large amounts of mitigation including the construction of a new sett may be required.
What are common signs of badger activity to look out for?
Badger signs can include:
Badger trails and footprints
Badger latrines and droppings
Signs of feeding
Active setts complete with spoil, mud and paths outside
Bedding materials, new and old
Badger hairs and scratch marks
Newly-dug soil
How can a badger sett or a badger group impact a potential development?
Badgers' networks of complex underground tunnels can be very dangerous for contractors and their machinery. That's why we recommend having a full badger survey if there's any chance that badgers have setts on site. Your survey will provide useful information on what development is allowed, and the scope of the restrictions or licences required.
Badger calendar: When is the best time of year to conduct a badger survey?
Badger surveys can be carried out all year round. Considerable delays in your construction project or changes to your plans might mean you need another, more up-to-date badger survey. This is because main setts can remain in use for decades, however levels of activity at other setts can change. We will be able to advise you about the period in which survey reports remain valid and when a resurvey is required.
Check out our survey calendar for more information.
If you're carrying out a long term development project, especially if it's likely to affect badger movements or feeding patterns, interim reports are useful to provide information on badger movement and assess any impacts from the development, this may also determine if you need an updated survey.
How to attain a Natural England badger licence
Before you apply for a Natural England Badger Licence, you need a badger survey that is conducted by a licenced ecologist in order to map the extent of the badger setts on site.
If you'd like to go ahead or have any questions, call us on 01865 893346 or: