Badger Sett Disturbance and Welfare

Badgers and their setts are legally protected in the UK, but development, agricultural operations, and illegal persecution remain sources of welfare harm and criminal activity.

Key Facts

Badgers and their setts are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992
It is illegal to damage, destroy, or obstruct a badger sett, or to kill, injure, or take a badger
Sett closure during development requires a licence from Natural England or equivalent body
Badger baiting, where dogs are set to fight badgers in excavated setts, continues illegally
Bovine tuberculosis culling policy in England has resulted in the legal killing of hundreds of thousands of badgers
Road mortality is the most common cause of badger death in areas without active culling

Welfare Considerations

Badgers experience welfare harm from multiple anthropogenic sources. Illegal baiting causes extreme suffering through fighting injuries in excavated setts. Snaring and trapping outside legal parameters causes injury and prolonged distress. Legal culling by shooting causes welfare harm from non-lethal wounding when animals are not killed outright. Sett destruction from unlicensed development or agricultural operations destroys habitat and may trap or kill badgers within. Road mortality is a widespread cause of traumatic injury. Wildlife crime enforcement targeting illegal baiting operations prevents some of the most severe individual welfare harms.

What You Can Do

Report suspected illegal badger persecution or baiting to the police Wildlife Crime Officer
Do not disturb or obstruct badger setts without a Natural England licence even during minor works
Support wildlife crime organisations investigating badger baiting and sett disturbance
Drive cautiously in areas with known badger activity, particularly in spring and autumn
Engage with local landowners and councils about creating safe road crossing points in badger territories