Badger Protection

To help try and protect the badger against digging and baiting, various laws have been passed.

As far back as 1835 baiting was banned.

In 1992 The Protection of Badgers Act came into being, making it illegal to cruelly ill-treat a badger. And also giving protection to the badger’s sett, making it illegal to damage or destroy, or allow a dog to enter one. On conviction a person can be imprisoned for a term not exceeding 6 months and or given a fine not exceeding £5,000.

PROBLEMS FACING BADGERS

Diggers …. It is estimated that about 10,000 to 20,000 badgers die each year at the hands of diggers. This is a considerable problem in Dyfed.

The area attracts diggers from the South Wales valleys to add to the problem of local diggers. This is a cruel and brutal so-called "sport" where terrier dogs are put into a badger’s sett while men dig out the badger. The badger is then attacked by larger dogs who savage it until it’s death.

Anyone seeing men with spades and dogs, who wish to help, should either call the police, the RSPCA, or ring one of the numbers below. Do not approach the diggers, but if possible take the number of their vehicles.

Remember if you see diggers on a sett...

ring the Police on 999

The badger, although rarely seen by most members of the public, remains one of the most popular of Britain’s wild animals.

The badgers live underground in a series of tunnels called a sett. They live in a close family group and may have occupied the same area for many years.

They are shy animals and like to keep to themselves, mainly emerging from the sett at dusk to feed. Although a shy animal they are very powerful and have extremely strong jaws and legs for digging.

The family of badgers will occupy a territory of land which they will defend against other badgers.

The badger has no natural enemies in the wild, but over the centuries has suffered great persecution from man in the form of badger digging and badger baiting.