Badger Surveys
A typical badger survey is carried out by an experienced ecologist who will search for signs of badger activity such as hairs, setts, pathways, snuffle holes, latrines, and paw prints. Occasionally, it may be carried out at the same time as the initial ecological appraisal or phase one habitat survey. Badger surveys can be undertaken at any time of the year, but bait marking is restricted to spring and autumn. Setts may need to be monitored over a period of time to confirm activity.
If a badger survey uncovers an active sett on a development site then an appropriate mitigation scheme will need to be designed and implemented. In most cases this will involve the retention and protection of the sett. On the rare occasion that this is not possible a relocation programme will need to be designed under a license agreed by Natural England.
Mitigation measures typically use specially designed badger fencing, which prevents setts from being 
destroyed during construction works. Fitted with badger gates to allow entrance and egress, this fencing can prevent disruption to normal badger behaviour. When relocation is absolutely necessary badgers can be excluded from a sett with the installation of one-way badger gates. At times when badgers must be excluded from a particularly important sett, it may be necessary to install an artificial sett elsewhere as a compensatory measure.
A license is required before the commencement of any development works that are conducted near an active sett, as it is an offence to disturb badgers or damage an active sett. Development licenses are granted by Natural England when appropriate information (such as status, location and use of any setts that will be affected by the works) is provided together with proposed mitigation measures. Mitigation measures are numerous and can include habitat enhancement for badgers as part of the landscaping proposals, use of badger corridors and badger fencing.
For more information about badger surveys and associated mitigation strategies please call us on 01323 768155 or use our enquiry form.
