Hello everybody...
I am wondering just how a person stand if he knows where a badgers set is thats is active and wants to try and photograph the badgers of that set ...
The Reason i am asking is there is a set less the 1/4 mile away from my home that is very active, i am intrested in trying to photograph the badgers of this set but i am afraid that i may open myself to trouble from the law as the set and badgers are under protection by law, and there is very heavy penaltys in place to those who interfer with a set or the badgers.....
I would be trying to set myself up away from the set (50 yards) and try to encorage them to feed in a area where i could photograph them without risking them at all....
Would i be within the law doing this, or would even being within a set distance from a set be breaking to law...
at no-time would i disclose the where about of this set, not even to the police if asked as i do know that information fallin into the wrong hands could be very dangerious...
If anyone can answer this i would be most happy.
dont just look enjoy and leave for others to share after you. we dont own the earth we just rent a small part of it....
Hi I don't think there is any problem with setting up at that distance to photograph them, because as you say it is only if you interfere with the nest or obstruct thefeeding area etc.The people would would be able to give you confirmation can be contacted at www.badgertrust .org.ukGood luck, hope you are sucessful.
Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~ Mark Twain
Hi Derek do not know the law but could not imagine you getting in trouble, these rules set up to deter law breakers and we sometimes watch Badgers at a set near us.You may be surprised that Fox hunts are allowed by law we are told to block up Badger setts supposedly with easy removable material which never happens as they in practice use clay and stones but do not in my experience ever get in trouble.A small group of us in the past have dug them out after the hunt finished for the night.Think that puts your proposal into perspective but would have a word with your local Badger group.Wish you lots of pleasure,in my experience the first Badger that comes out is very wary and quite often our best views have been when they are already out and are not so nervous.
Hi Sooty,
Your post intrigued me, so I had a "dig" about .
The law regarding the stopping of Badger setts was changed in 2004. Hunts are no longer permitted to block the holes in any way.
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/regulation/wildlife/species/badgers.aspx
All the best,
MC
Well I am sure you would be right Micky having looked it up but blocking of Badger setts did not stop until the ban on hunting came in whenever that was.What was obviously happening was in that case illegal but the police do not bother the hunt with small things like that.Think the law before stated that it had to be easily removable material such as hay and removed after the hunt finished but in practice from digging it out can promise you it was clay and boulders,strangely even the Badger society whatever it is called did not seem to even get the police to stop it.
In my experience with the hunt if acting illegally the police called it a civil matter and of course it would be a big job to start something like that,surely if they have committed a crime the police should prosecute them
Yes, that was indeed the case before the Hunting Act (2004). The link includes the changes made under the act.
Cheers,
MC:-)
It is legal to watch badgers, there are some tips on minimising your impact by doing so from the Badger Trust here - http://www.nfbg.org.uk/_Attachments/Resources/56_S4.pdf
Millie & Fly the Border Collies