Conservation & Ecology
also provide information. Sows, for example, might wish to indicate their presence (or availability) to males from other social groups, and, likewise, boars might wish to alert sows to their presence. Whatever the significance of these dung
pits on the edge of territories, they are also commonly found where badgers feed regularly, and close to main setts. Small quantities of faeces deposited on the surface without any attempt at an excavation are frequently a sign that cubs are about. Corners of fields, hedgerows with well worn tracks leading into them or through them, the edge of woods, especially beneath or close to young elder trees and under blackberry bushes, are all frequent latrine sites. The contents of latrines give a clue to the
food being eaten. Peanuts, fed to badgers in gardens or at setts, often pass through the digestive system whole and appear in the faeces, as do, for example, the red berries of yew trees, a popular autumnal food. If the faeces are watery, that is an indicator that worms are in plentiful supply. Closer examination of the faeces provides more clues - the bones of tiny rodents, strands of hair from young rabbits, the husks of cereals, the wing cases of beetles, and so on. Pale yellow secretions of musk may be
evident in latrines, especially where they appear to be territorial markers.
Scratching trees
Usually close to sett entrances, badgers, young and old, often rear on to their hind legs, reach out and scratch the bark of a tree, commonly elder. The vertical marks they leave in the bark are easy to see and frequently
which proceedings in England and Wales for a summary offence under the 1992 Act can be brought, beginning with the date on which sufficient evidence in the opinion of the prosecutor to warrant the proceedings came to his knowledge.
Scotland
Since 2004, badgers in Scotland have been protected by the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 as amended by the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.
Other legislation
Badgers are also listed in Schedule 6 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and section 11 of this Act prohibits the use of certain methods of taking or killing a wild animal, including illuminating devices and some snares.
Other legislation relevant to badgers (and to dogs which may be used in badger offences) includes the Protection of Animals Act 1911 and the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960. Offences include causing unnecessary suffering, or abandoning in circumstances likely to result in such suffering, and fighting or baiting animals.
The sentence under these Acts is a fine at level 5 or imprisonment up to six months; confiscation or destruction of dogs and a ban on keeping animals.
The Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973 (section 43) allows the forfeiture of property
extend to near ground level. Some observers describe the action as claw sharpening. Others, say it is simply a stretching exercise after hours spent underground. Many regard it simply as a way to clean claws coated with mud. Yet another explanation is that tree- scratching is a territorial marker.
Snuffle holes
As they hunt for grubs, insects, beetles and, notably, earthworms, badgers leave behind them lots of visual evidence. They will claw out pieces of turf, create shallow circular snuffle holes (as they push their nose into soft soil), turn stones over, remove chunks of rotting timber from fallen trees and dig out large holes to reach bee and wasp nests. Badgers are powerful animals and their claws tear out lumps of soil, quite different
used, or intended to be used, to commit or facilitate the commission of any offence, including dogs.
There are powers of arrest only for cruelty to, or abandonment of, domestic or captive animals under the 1911 Animals Act, or if the general arrest conditions apply (section 25 of PACE, 1984).
The Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 prohibit the use of unapproved products to deter or kill animals, including badgers. There are no chemical repellents licensed to be used specifically to deter badgers, since approval for Renardine was withdrawn on 24th March 2005.
Licensing: development and protection of property
The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 allows for licences to be issued for a number of purposes, including development under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and to prevent serious damage to property.
Licences to interfere with badger setts or disturb badgers for development, or to prevent serious damage to property (including land, crops and poultry) are issued by the Government’s statutory nature conservation agencies (Natural England, Countryside Council for Wales or Scottish Natural Heritage). Such licences can allow the interference with, and/or closure of setts. In some cases, licences are issued to allow the killing of badgers, although this is generally a last resort and only a handful
A flattened sett in Poole, Dorset resulted in the suffocation of the resident badgers
from the very fine soil excavated by the tiny paws of rabbits and squirrels. Newly laid turf can suffer serious damage if badgers scent live food in the damp soil immediately under the turf. By contrast, in wet weather or in damp, dewy early morning conditions, badgers leave not a trace of damage when feeding on earthworms that have come to the surface in parks, on turf, in fields and on grass verges.
Your county wildlife trust or local badger watch will be able to offer further advice. Alternatively, contact Badger Trust at
www.badger.org.uk
of such licences are issued each year.
Licences may be granted by the conservation agencies for interference with badger setts in the course of investigating offences. Such licences are normally issued to Police Wildlife Crime Officers and to others officially involved in this work.
Other purposes for which licences may be granted are science, education and conservation; zoos; tagging and marking; archaeology; disease prevention; agriculture and forestry; land drainage; and controlling foxes for the protection of livestock, game and wildlife.
Licensing bodies Natural England: Tel: 0845 600 3078
Countryside Council for Wales /Cygnor Cefn Gwlad Cymru: Tel: 0845 1306229 Scottish Natural Heritage: Tel: 01463 725000
DEFRA (Wildlife Management Team): Tel: 0117 372 8003
NAWAD (Food Farming Development Division): Tel: 01970 613295
Scottish Environment & Rural Affairs Department: Tel: 0300 244 4000 Badger Trust was PAW Partner of the Year 2005
www.defra.gov.uk/paw
PC DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016 I 119
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156