Badgers and their setts are protected under law in many countries. Understanding legal protections and how to support badger welfare is important for conservation and individual animal wellbeing.
Badger baiting causes extreme suffering through prolonged violent attacks and is a serious crime. Sett disturbance during sensitive periods including winter and the breeding season also causes welfare harm. Legal protection of setts and prosecution of wildlife crime are important welfare mechanisms. The ongoing debate about culling in TB control policy involves genuine welfare trade-offs between badger and cattle wellbeing.