Badgers
High Quality Ecological Services at Affordable Prices
Preliminary Badger Survey
Preliminary Badger Surveys are surveys conducted by suitably experienced ecologists, to determine if there is evidence of badgers using the site.
This involves searching the site for signs of badgers (Meles meles) including:
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Badger footprints,
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Badger sett entrances,
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Badger fur,
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Badger runs,
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Snuffle holes (foraging signs),
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Dung pits
Preliminary Badger Surveys can be undertaken at any time of year, but the optimum period is February and March, when badgers are most active and vegetation cover is mostly absent. If evidence of badgers is found, Badger Monitoring may be required to inform an impact assessment, and possibly a badger development licence.
The report we provide is written in accordance with the current standards and guidelines, making them suitable for accompanying planning and development licence applications.
You can expect your bespoke Preliminary Badger Survey report to be delivered to you within 2-3 working days, following the completion of the visit.
Badger Monitoring
Monitoring of a site for badger activity is necessary, where a badger sett is going to be impacted on by development. Monitoring helps to determine the level of badger activity on site, including the status of any setts present, and to inform a Badger Development Licence.
To monitor a badger sett, various techniques are used, namely the deployment of sand and fur traps and wildlife night-vision cameras.
Visits should be carried out over a two week period, preferably during February to April.
Badger Development Licence
A Badger Development Licence is a licence provided by Natural England to lawfully disturb badgers and close a badger sett. Badger Development Licences need to be informed by Badger Monitoring.
Full planning consent is required before a Badger Development Licence can be applied for.
A Badger Development Licence application will need to be approved by Natural England, which can take up to 30 working days upon submission.