What to Do When You’ve Run Over a Badger

March 17, 2019

What do you do if you run over a badger crossing the road? And why do so many get hit in the first place during February? Let’s find out in today’s blog.

Badger habits in February and March

February is typically the time of year when female badgers give birth to their cubs. Their litters can range from one to five, though most will give birth to three. This time of year also happens to be the start of mating season and for males in search of a sow this presents a problem.

Whether it be across rolling fields or a busy road, male badgers are currently emerging from their setts and roaming far and wide looking for a mate. But the trouble is when it comes to crossing these busy roads, badgers aren’t too great with their green cross code. Combine this lack of road knowledge with the fact they usually travel at night and the result is that thousands of  badgers are claimed by British drivers every single year.

What do if you hit one

So, you’ve officially become a badger slayer. But, what now?

  1. Do not approach. Badgers have strong jaws, so it’s best to stay out of reach. They will not hesitate to bite if they feel threatened and a fleeing badger can cause further road accidents. Wait and watch from a distance. This is also our advice if the badger chooses to move away from the scene; simply watch where it goes and don’t try to stop it.
  2. Do not pick up an unconscious badger. Due to their ability to give a painful bite, do not attempt to relocate an unconscious badger. They might look cute and cuddly asleep, but it needs to be safely contained in case it wakes.
  3. Report the accident. If you hit or see an injured badger, please ring the RSPCA emergency line on 0300 1234 999, and the Police on 101, to inform them that the road may need to be closed in order to safely collect the animal. It’s also best to warn any other road users if there is an obstruction.
  4. Raise awareness. The best way to avoid a badger road casualty is by taking care on roads that are near woodland and open green spaces. It’s also a good idea to warn other road users in your area to take care on certain roads where badgers have been sighted.

We hope that you’ve enjoyed our tips on what to do in the event of a badger road casualty.

Of course, the best advice we can provide is to simply give badgers a brake this year. Slow down on roads in areas where badgers are common and be extra aware that one could be crossing the road in the dark hours. After all, even if you’re not the biggest badger fan, hitting a 12 kg badger at 40 mph is going to give you a rather large crack in your bumper.

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Please contact us on enquiries@lancashirebadgergroup.org.uk for advice on your specific problem with badgers in your garden, we are happy to help.