Protected Species | Badgers
Peak Ecology provides expert advice in relation to badgers and has extensive experience of surveying and mitigation.
Protection and Ecology
Due to persecution, badgers Meles meles and their active setts receive protection under the Protection of Badgers Act (1992).
Badgers are the largest nocturnal mammal, distributed throughout the UK. They form territory-based social clans that live in underground setts. Within a territory there may be several different types of sett which can be sued for different purposes and at different times of the year. Setts are typically created in banked habitats often in woodland and scrub but can be in other locations such as hedgerow bottoms. Badgers are omnivorous and each clan needs access to good foraging habitats.
Services
- Habitat suitability survey (normally as part of an Extended Habitat Survey)
- Badger survey and assessments
- Sett activity assessments
- Bait marking surveys
- Mitigation and habitat management advice
- Method statement production
- Mitigation licence applications
- Sett closures (between 1 July and 30 November only)
- Artificial sett design and creation
Our team of surveyors has an excellent understanding of badger ecology and habitat requirements which enables us to undertake effective surveys. Surveyors follow recognised survey methodologies to identify and categorise setts and interpret field signs and activity. Alongside undertaking standard surveys, habitat suitability, sett activity and badger assessments, we also have the expertise to carry out more in-depth surveys, such as bait marking studies, which are undertaken where impacts are likely to be significant.
Surveys allow us to assess the significance of potential impacts caused by proposed development/works to enable us to formulate a practicable, proportionate approach to protecting badgers and their setts on a site.
We also have experience in devising mitigation strategies for a range of project scales and types and have a full understanding of the seasonal constraints and best practice protocols related to unavoidable disturbance of badgers and their setts. Mitigation options range from minor alterations to a scheme to artificial sett creation and sett closure, depending upon the scale of impact. Peak Ecology staff have extensive experience of applying for badger disturbance and sett closure licences and have experience in the design and construction of artificial setts, where there is no alternative to setts being lost as part of a development scheme.
If you are interested in any of our services, don’t hesitate to contact us >>