Badger surveys for the planning process

Any planning application that may affect badgers has to include a report that assesses the impact of the proposed development on any badgers on and around the site. We carry out badger surveys for this purpose, and will produce a comprehensive report that satisfies planning requirements.
Badgers are nocturnal animals that spend the days in their setts, which are networks of underground tunnels. These family setts can have anything from 5 – 50 badgers living in them. They have a defined territory within which the sett will be located. Badgers will tend to walk their territory during the night, marking these areas which they travel, on well-worn paths.

How we carry out badger surveys

We conduct a badger survey by walking over the site and surrounding area to look for evidence of hairs caught on fences, snuffle holes in the grassland and field edges, badger latrines and setts. Where evidence of badgers is found or suspected, we may install wildlife cameras for further observation at night, when they are active.
Once we’ve completed the survey, we make an assessment of the likely impact of the proposed development on any setts found and the foraging habitat used by the badgers. We include recommendations in our report for protecting the badger population. This may include erecting special fencing or even building a new sett.

Badger licences

Where damage or disturbance to badgers or their setts is unavoidable, you’ll need a licence from NatureScot prior to starting work. We can apply for this licence on your behalf.
A licence for development permits someone to ‘interfere’ with a badger sett for the purpose of development. The licence doesn’t allow the removal, translocation or killing of badgers for the purpose of development. Interference means:

• damaging or destroying a sett or any part of it
• obstructing access to a sett by blocking the tunnels that radiate from the entrance
• disturbing a badger while it is in a sett
• causing or allowing a dog to enter a badger sett

Any development within 30m of a badger sett entrance could result in interference to the sett. NatureScot may extend this distance where more disruptive works such as blasting or pile-driving are planned.
Licences aren’t generally issued during the breeding season (30 November to 1 July) and can’t be granted retrospectively. You should schedule any work that will involve disturbance to a sett to take place outside of this breeding period.

Badgers and land management

Badgers occupy a range of habitats from sea cliffs to upland areas. They are most often found in agricultural areas, but are also often found in woodland.
Most land management practices are unlikely to affect badgers or their setts. However, you need to apply for a licence if forestry or agricultural operations, or drainage and other works could result in an offence in relation to badgers.

If you are planning to carry out woodland management works within 20m of a sett entrance, you will need a standard forestry operations licence. The proposed works may include felling or harvesting and vehicle access.
As part of the application process, you must explain how your operations will be carried out using standard mitigation measures. This involves creating a protection zone that extends 20m from all sett entrances. This distance extends to 30m during the badger breeding season. No heavy machinery or vehicles may enter this zone.
The individual in charge of carrying out or overseeing the operations must apply for the licence, and we can assist with this.

Badgers are generally very shy and secretive creatures, and usually coexist peacefully with humans. But on rare occasions badgers can cause damage to gardens, crops or property.
If you are having a problem with badgers on your property, we can first carry out a badger survey. Then we’ll recommend measures you can take to ensure that badgers can’t access the affected area. When this isn’t possible, and serious damage might occur to the property, you will need a licence to prevent serious damage from NatureScot.

If you have any questions about badgers and their protected status, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 01224 734372. You can also get more information about badgers by visiting the Scottish SPCA.