Badgers and their setts are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act (1992) which makes it an offence to kill, injure, interfere with or take a badger. It also makes it an offence to damage or interfere with an active sett unless a licence is obtained.
Badgers are an easily recognisable, and very social nocturnal species. They live in setts which can be an underground network of chambers and tunnels. The main setts can have several entrances.
If the presence of badgers is suspected on a development site, then an assessment will need to be carried out to decide whether a development licence will be required for any works. A Development Licence will be required for any works likely to affect an active badger sett or disturb badgers occupying a sett. A badger survey can utilise various techniques:
One way badger gate
At Phlorum we have experience of obtaining badger licences, for a wide range of projects for both development and non-development purposes. This includes disturbance near to a sett, temporary closure of a sett, removal of a sett including main setts and creation of artificial setts.
Contact us for advice if you think badgers are causing an issue that might require further investigation. We are happy to have a free, no obligation chat to see how we can help.
