Wildlife

Wild Badger Sett Protection UK

Badger setts are legally protected in the UK, and interference with setts causes significant welfare harm to social family groups.

Key Facts

Badgers live in complex social groups called clans centred on their sett
Sett interference is a criminal offence under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992
Badgers may occupy the same sett system for generations
Badger culling for bovine TB control raises significant welfare concerns
Vaccination programs using BCG are an alternative to lethal control

Welfare Considerations

Sett destruction and persecution cause severe welfare harm by destroying the social fabric of badger clans and leaving individuals without shelter. TB vaccination programs protect badger welfare while contributing to bovine TB control. Illegal baiting and persecution continue to cause significant suffering.

What You Can Do

Report suspected sett interference to the police wildlife crime unit
Support badger vaccination programs as alternatives to culling
Create badger-friendly habitat by maintaining hedgerows and field margins