Back to: Top / Contents

Using artificial lights

Most badgers seem to be quite tolerant of artificial light, though they may sometimes be alarmed by lights going on or off suddenly. If the light from your window is not enough for you to see them by, try using a torch. I use a quite a powerful torch when watching "my" badgers at their sett, and a 100 Watt video light when filming them. They don't seem to mind these bright lights. You could try fitting a powerful halogen exterior light, and see how the badgers react. It is probably better to have the light on before the badgers arrive, rather than switching it on while they are there, but badgers vary in their reactions so you may need to experiment. If the badgers shy away, you may need to put the food further away from the house again, gradually luring them closer night by night so that they become acclimatised to the brightness.

Back to: Top / Contents

Taking photos and video film

If you have a camera or video camera, then you should be able to get some great photos or film of the badgers in your garden. Beware though of flash units or video lights reflecting back off the windows. If this is a problem, try pointing your camera or camcorder through an open window. You will need to have the window open before the badgers arrive, rather than opening it while they are there and frightening them off with the noise. You will of course also have to keep as quiet as possible before the badgers arrive and while they are about.

You could also try separating the flash from your camera (if it has a separate flash) or the light from your camcorder. Get someone else to hold the flash or light close to the window, some distance from the camera or camcorder, so that the light does not reflect back into the lens.

Back to: Top / Contents

Badgers in the house

A few people have so enjoyed watching badgers in their garden that they have taken things a stage further. By leaving a door open, and putting food on the floor inside the house, they have encouraged the badgers to join them indoors.

Provided that no harm comes to the badgers, the householders or indeed the house, then I see no problem with this. Of the three possibilities that I have just listed, damage to the house is perhaps the most likely. Badgers are determined animals and strong with it. If they get used to feeding indoors, they may do some damage trying to access their new foraging area if the door is not open when they arrive. At least one household has even fitted a 'badger flap' so that their nocturnal visitors do not feel the need to try tearing their way through the door.

Picture © Reg Prior, and used with permission.

Back to: Top / Contents

In conclusion

If you watch badgers in your garden, I would love to hear about your observations, and may be able to feature them on a page on this Web site. Just don't make me too jealous!

Also, if you have any comments on the advice I have given here, do pass them on.

Finally, a word of warning. By encouraging badgers to visit your garden, you may find that they start causing damage, such as digging holes in your lawn, or eating your carrots or daffodil bulbs. If that happens, and you join the ranks of those who don't think that they are lucky to have badgers in their garden, I'll remind you of the section of the Badger Pages you will need to visit - Coexisting.

Back to: Top / Contents

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.

Back to: Top / Contents