Badgers are common throughout Ireland and can be found in most rural and suburban areas. During the day they live in underground burrows called setts, which are usually in secluded areas under tree cover. They live in groups and form territories based around one large sett that is permanently occupied (the ‘main sett’) and a number of secondary setts that are occupied on a seasonal or temporary basis. Badgers are protected by national legislation, under which it is an offence to:
- Kill or injure a badger
- Damage or disturb a badger sett
If a development has any risk of disturbing potential badger habitat, a planning authority may request a badger survey and report from a suitably qualified ecologist. In particular, the following activities are considered high-risk:
- Any clearance of habitat that may contain badger setts, e.g. woodland, mature hedgerows or scrub
- Linear infrastructure projects (e.g. roads) in areas likely to be used by badgers
Badger surveys - what is involved?
The presence or absence of badgers can usually be confirmed by searching suitable habitat for setts and any other characteristic signs (e.g. droppings, feeding holes or hair tufts on fences). Surveys can be conducted throughout the year, but are less effective in mid to late summer when undergrowth is most dense.
If evidence of badgers is found on a development site, mitigation measures may be required to avoid killing / injuring them during works, to avoid disturbance of setts, and to protect their feeding habitat. Suitable measures will be designed on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the project architect or engineer.
If you need a badger survey please contact us for a quote or further advice.
