Badger Surveys & Mitigation

A protected species, the badger is one of Britain’s most iconic animals and a well-recognised symbol of the British countryside. Badger surveys and mitigation are a very important part of The Ecology Consultancy’s work.

We have considerable experience on small and large projects for clients throughout the UK and have badger specialists in all our offices.

The badger is relatively common in the UK, with an estimated population of 250,000. Although widespread, their distribution is uneven. Badger populations are dense in the south of England with smaller populations in the centres of large towns and cities. Most badgers occupy managed landscapes, such as farmland with copses.

The Law

Badgers are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. Under the Act, it is a serious offence to kill, injure, interfere or take a badger. It is also an offence to damage or interfere with an actively used sett unless a licence is obtained. Our expert ecologists are experienced in surveying for badgers and can apply for the relevant licence to allow disturbance or the destruction of setts, where and when necessary. They also receive some protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended).

Breaking the law can lead to fines of up to £5,000 per offence and potential prison sentences of up to six months. Vehicles implicated in an offence can be confiscated and both the company and/or the individual(s) concerned can be held liable.

Expert Badger Consultants

Our expert and experienced ecologists can advise on and carry out all aspects of badger conservation and protection, from thorough field surveys using GIS as support, to mitigation work including artificial badger sett construction and habitat enhancement.

Our ecologists have worked on a range of rural and urban developments including:

• Survey of extensive badger setts in Waltham Abbey using GIS, in advance of planning
• Creation of artificial badger setts in Harlow, where the main sett was situated in the development area

Working with Badgers

Licences are issued to allow badger setts to be disturbed or closed. If an active badger sett is present on your site a licence may be required from Natural England, but can only be granted for developments that already have planning permission. If a badger sett is likely to be used for breeding, a licence will only be granted between the months of July and November. Licence preparation and administration take time and, therefore, it is important to plan accordingly.

Surveys and Mitigation

Badger setts comprise tunnels and chambers that are visible as single holes or groups of holes. Entrances are broader than they are high, oval in shape and surrounded by loose soil. Where main setts are threatened by development it is often necessary to replicate these in nearby suitable habitat. Their ideal habitat would include a mix of deciduous woodland and pasture.

From working on small-scale survey projects to larger monitoring and habitat protection with local authorities and statutory bodies such as Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and Scottish Natural Heritage, The Ecology Consultancy has the experience and expertise to complete your badger survey quickly and efficiently.

About Us

Our client base is broad and includes local authorities, infrastructure engineers, utility companies, planning consultants, architects and private developers such as farmers. We have been involved in small and large property development projects, working closely with all agencies involved. As experienced wildlife consultants, we are used to dealing with all legal and commercial issues surrounding protected species like the badger.

We guarantee you a high quality service, with a strong focus on our clients. We are happy to give free initial advice and can provide robust fee-quotes. We provide timely, high quality reports of our work to all stakeholders.