Hi and thank you for your question,
Uk law and badgers:
Badgers and their setts are protected here in the Uk, the Protection
of Badgers Act 1992 means that it’s an offence to intentionally
injure, kill, cruelly-treat, or sell a badger. Additionally it is
also an offence to dig, interfere with, obstruct access to or damage a
badger sett. Full details about the law and badgers in the Uk can be
found in the following online article:
http://freespace.virgin.net/alan.bowles/images/badgers%20and%20the%20law.PDF
‘Badgers and the Law’, NATIONAL FEDERATION OF BADGER GROUPS
However, there are still ways of deterring badgers from ruining your
garden.
Discouraging badgers:
The Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs provide advice to
householders on dealing with badger problems in the following article:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/regulat/forms/cons_man/vertpest/wm07.pdf
.
(as this is a PDF file you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read it,
if you don't already have this you can download it from Adobe's
website http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html )
According to this article the only animal repellent which is approved
for use against badgers is Renardine (Roebuck-Eyot Ltd), it can be
used to deter them from small areas.
Renardine costs £8.95 from the following website and looks to be
recommended by several sources:
http://www.sortoutyourgarden.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Larger_Animals_111.html
The same article recommends using chain-link fencing: ‘As badgers are
capable of climbing, it is usually necessary to incorporate a
supported 30cm (12") overhang at the top of a fence, directed away
from the area to be protected. The fence should be at least 125cm
(48") high and be buried to a depth of 60cm (24"). Alternatively, the
mesh can be lapped outwards for 50cm (20") on the ground surface to
prevent badgers digging underneath it.’
Electric fencing ‘can be operated either by a car battery (which must
be recharged regularly) or through a 12v transformer powered by mains
electricity. A mains-powered fence can be connected to a timer which
ensures that the fence
only operates when it is needed. Either rabbit-proof electric netting
or a two-stranded polywire fence can be employed, although steel wire
may be a better option where the fence is needed to last several
years’
‘Badgers digging in lawns is a largely seasonal phenomenon, most
pronounced in early spring and late autumn. Since the problem is
confined to certain limited periods each year, many gardeners find it
easier to tolerate the nuisance than try to exclude the badgers from
their garden…..Minimising damage to gardens is difficult, as badgers
are both powerful and determined creatures. The use of chemical
deterrents is the time-honoured method but with the recent Control of
Pesticides Regulations (1986) it is illegal to use unapproved
chemicals, not specified for this particular use, so care must be
taken in choosing a product.’
‘How to discourage badgers from invading your garden’
http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/cornwall/members/qbadgers.htm
According www.badgerland.co.uk , providing an alternative food supply,
away from the problem areas, may help in minimising the damage they do
in the garden as they often dig the ground in search of grubs to feed
on. ‘You can help badgers by providing a bowl of water and some dog
food, as badgers will come out of their setts to feed during the
colder autumn evenings.’
http://www.badgerland.co.uk/animals/food/yourgarden.html
At the same website, it advises gardens to let their lawns grow a bit:
‘Leaving the grass to grow longer, may mean worms are more difficult
to find, so badgers don't end up doing as much damage’.
I have also found a product available from www.pestcontroldirect.co.uk
which is said to be ‘ Designed to clear your garden of unwanted
visitors, including rats,dogs,cats,squirrels, rabbits, foxes, badgers
and deer’, apparently it emits ultra-sound when the animals are in the
area. You can see more about this product at the following website:
http://www.pestcontroldirect.co.uk/Pest_Control_Direct_GARDEN_PESTS_29.html
The National Federation of Badger Groups can also give advice on
controlling badgers: Telephone: 020 7498 3220
Search Strategy:
I used the following search terms at www.google.co.uk :
badgers garden nuisance
://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=badgers+garden+nuisance&btnG=Google+Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK%7CcountryGB
Badgers digging garden
://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=badgers+destroy+garden&btnG=Google+Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK%7CcountryGB
Badger garden pest
://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=badgers+garden+pest&btnG=Google+Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK%7CcountryGB
I hope that this information helps to rid you of your unwelcome
visitors; please let me know if you require further clarification of
this answer.
Kind regards,
Ali |
