Sett Protection
 We can protect badgers in their setts by capping.
This involves reinforcing setts with high tensile
steel mesh and concrete to create an impenetrable barrier against
badger diggers. It is then virtually impossible for the diggers to
go through the roof of the sett to reach the badgers in their chambers. If
badger digger try to attack such a sett, they will find it very time-consuming
to dig down to the nesting chambers; which will increase the chances of them
being caught.
To try and get round these protected setts, some diggers are turning to lamping.
This is where they use high-powered spotlights to pinpoint an disorientate a
badger so it freezes to the spot. The badger is seized by sending hunting dogs
(such as Lurchers) to run down the beam of light and keep the badger at bay,
until it can be caught in a net, sack or a cage by the baiters.
Lamping may take less time, but using high-powered spotlights across the
countryside is a very risky method, as the lights attract attention from a long
way away.
To get round the problems of digging and lamping, some sett areas are protected
with silent alarms and wireless covert
monitoring technology. These allow high-resolution photographs and videos to be
taken automatically with the evidence (of images and videos of incriminating
behaviour) being transmitted to a storage system hundreds of metres away.
However, of equal importance is the eyes and ears of local residents and badger
watchers. It is well known in badger circles that our local volunteers and badger watchers
play a key role in
looking after our badgers by keeping an eye on them and reporting suspicious
vehicles or activities.
If you are interested in our Sett Protection work, please
Contact Us. |
