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Badger paths

Well-used badger paths are very conspicuous. They are easy to see as the constant passage of badger feet has flattened or worn away any vegetation. Badger pathways may be seen running between the entrances of a sett, and leading away from a sett towards foraging grounds or other setts. They can also be found in places well away from setts, particularly where they cross roads or go through gaps under fences.

Although badgers paths can be highly visible to us, to the badgers these routes are well known scent trails which they, and many other badgers before them, have scent-marked and followed night after night.

Picture © Steve Jackson. The photo shows a well-used badger path leading away from a sett, under a barbed wire fence, up a slope, under a fallen branch, and on towards foraging grounds. See the Photo File.

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Recently used?

The presence of well-worn badger paths is a good indication that there has been badger activity - but assessing how recent that activity has been can be difficult. In the spring, in those places where badger paths run through areas of rapidly growing bluebells or other vegetation, the treading down of the new growth is clear evidence of current use. Generally however, the only way to be sure is to look for some of the signs discussed elsewhere in this section of the Badger Pages. In particular you should look for footprints, which will show up where the paths go through soft or muddy ground. Occasionally you may come across very well used badger paths where there are a considerable number of badger footprints. I call such paths "badger motorways"!

Picture © Steve Jackson. The photo shows a badger path running down a steep bank and across a road. It is at crossing points like this that road casualties occur.

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Additional picture credits

The Eurasian badger photo used at the head of this Article is © Steve Jackson. Credits for the photos used in the right-hand margin of this page for site navigation can be found on the Credits page.

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