The badger is a shy and discreet animal. It has a reputation for causing damage to gardens and vegetable gardens, but it is not on the list of species likely to be classified as pests. Is it easy to live with the presence of a badger in your garden?
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The badger, who is this little country bear?
Often nicknamed "the little country bear", the badger does not belong to the ursidae family. Recognizable by its white and black fur, its elongated muzzle and its small ears, it is part of the same animal order as ferrets, otters or weasels. It is also the largest representative of the Mustelidae family, because it can measure up to 1 meter and weigh more than 10 kg. The badger lives in burrows which it shares with around ten other individuals. Considered game in France, it is nevertheless protected in other European countries. It can therefore be hunted in order to control local populations. To escape hunters or because it needs to feed, it can therefore venture out of the forests where it hides, and in particular visit gardens.
Did you know ?
The badger is an omnivorous, fructivorous but also carnivorous animal.
Is the badger a pest in the garden?
Being a nocturnal animal, the badger is not a threat during the day. Moreover, nature lovers enjoy seeing the animal come out of its burrow at dusk. As for the damage it can wreak in the garden, it all depends on the quantity of food it has available. If the soil is rich in worms, insects, or if there are rodents nearby, he can dig to dig them up. In fact, it can potentially destroy lawns and flowerbeds. In winter or if he has not found anything to eat, he can take some vegetables from the vegetable garden to eat. His attention will mainly focus on root vegetables. Several signs will then testify to the passage of the animal: footprints, claw marks in the ground, earthen basins filled with excrement or even small mounds of earth.
The badger is useful because it contributes to:
regulate populations of insects, slugs, snails, rodents
aerate the soil
enrich soils with nitrogen.
scatter the seeds of the ingested fruits.
To live with it or not?
In itself, the badger is not a dangerous animal. Moreover, damage to the garden or vegetable patch is generally rare. The animal can, however, damage young shoots and push crops to start again. However, he does not destroy the vegetable garden for pleasure and the damage is low. Like many wild animals, it only seeks food. The tracks left behind are also less extensive than those of wild boars and other forest animals. And if you come face to face with the badger, it will generally be fearful and will tend to flee.
But if you want to keep it away from the vegetable garden, install a fence around the garden, block access to the vegetable garden. You can also leave fruit on the ground for it to eat. Yes lure it to another place, always using fruit. Using repellents, such as lavender essential oil, can also make it go away. You can finally scare it away from your garden by installing motion detectors using lighting.
It's up to you to decide whether you want to live with this useful animal, by making a few adjustments, or whether you really want to show him the way out!