Lancashire Badger Group

Badger Calendar

January

Females (sows) become properly pregnant, but badgers are active only irregularly.

February

This is the month when most badger cubs are born in the north of England. Shortly afterwards there may be noisy courtship displays!

March

A lot of badgers are involved in road accidents as they seek food and fresh bedding for new cubs. Dead sows mean a risk that baby badgers will starve to death.

April

Cubs start to explore the sett and may even come out of the sett entrance.

May

Cubs are generally exploring round the sett area now, and frequent mating sessions may be seen.

June

Sows finish lactating by the end of the month, meaning that cubs are being weaned. Badgers may also emerge in the early evening.

July

Cubs should be expected to weight roughly 6kg and be feeding themselves. Badgers may be forced to travel further distances to get water in drought periods, leading to an increased risk of road deaths.

August

Badgers will be digging their setts again to improve them. In drought periods, they may eat cereals if they can not get enough water or wet food.

September

Badgers continue to dig their setts, and collect new bedding materials.

October

Autumn fruits now form a big part of their diets, and badgers increase their weight rapidly.

November

Badgers start to emerge later and less often; and less mating activity takes place.

December

Badgers will sleep deeper and longer; and will sometimes emerge only to use latrines. Eggs implant in the sows, so this is when the true gestation period starts.