The good news is that UK badgers are not endangered species. However, they are a protected species because of the extreme levels of persecution they face.
They are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as well as both badgers and their setts being protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.
Badgers live in small social groups and can be found in both rural and urban areas across the UK. They favour a variety of habitats including woodland, arable farmland, copses and pasture, and they live in underground tunnels and chambers called setts, where they are mostly active from dusk through to dawn.
In this guide, we look at the current status of badgers in the UK, the main threats they face, and what should be done if a badger or badger sett is discovered, explaining what badger surveys involve and when they may be needed.
The Current Status of Badgers in the UK
The European Badger is listed as ‘Least Concern’ by the IUCN, so the badger population in the UK is generally stable. However, they still face ongoing pressures, with badger life most under threat from human activities when it comes to new construction projects destroying their habitats.
As badgers are a nocturnal species, roads are a real threat to them. It is estimated that up to 50,000 badgers are killed on the UK roads every year and there has been more than 254,000 badgers killed since England’s badger cull began in 2013.
The two laws in place to protect badgers have been designed to stop them from being killed or disrupted. To sustain the badger population, it’s important we avoid tampering with their setts and disturbing these peaceful creatures.
The Main Threats That Badgers Face
Although badgers are a familiar slight in the UK, they do face a number of threats that can affect their safety, habitats and long-term wellbeing. Some of the main threats include:
Habitat Loss & Developments
Housing developments, new roads and any commercial development can fragment badger habitats, making it difficult for them to move safely between their setts and feeding areas. Developments can also result in the loss of suitable habitats, forcing them into dangerous urban areas.
Road Traffic & Collisions
One of the most significant dangers to badgers in the UK is being killed or injured on roads. Due to travelling from their setts to feeding areas, they are regularly crossing roads, often at night when visibility for drivers is often reduced.
Road casualties remain an ongoing concern in many parts of the UK.
Damage to Setts
A badger sett is an essential part of any badger’s life. A sett provides a safe place to rest, raise young and shelter from any danger, and it’s known that some can be used by generations of badgers.
Badgers and their setts are protected by law in the UK, and certain activities that could disturb or damage a sett maybe require a licence.
So, any human activities near setts that could cause significant disturbance, and potentially damage or interfere with these underground homes, badger presence needs to be taken into consideration.
Government – Approved Badger Culling
One of the most controversial issues surrounding badgers in the UK has been Government-approved badger culling in England. Badger culling was introduced in 2013 as part of measures designed to control the spread of bovine tuberculosis (bTB), a serious infectious disease affecting cattle and other mammals.
However, this situation has now changed; licensed badger culling in England ended in January 2026.
The debate surrounding badger culling highlights the difficult balance between protecting wildlife and tackling a serious disease that has significant consequences for farmers and cattle. Government policy is now moving towards a broader approach to controlling bovine TB, including increased badger vaccination, improved cattle testing and surveillance, cattle vaccination research, and other disease-control measures.
The Government’s stated aim is to achieve officially bovine TB-free status for England by 2038.
With the different threats that badgers face, if you’re planning to build a structure or develop a piece of land, there are a number of important steps that need to be considered before work can begin.
One of these is assessing the potential impact of the proposed development on local wildlife, including badgers and other protected species.
Identifying any potential issues at an early stage can help ensure that the appropriate measures are put in place before work begins.
What is a Badger Survey?
If there are signs of badgers in or around your development site, then a survey will be required for planning applications. The surveys will then confirm if there are badgers on or nearby the site you want to develop on.
The different types of Badger surveys include:
- Badger Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEA) Surveys
- Badger Presence / Absence Surveys
- Badger Camera Trap & Bait Marking Surveys
- Badger Exclusions & Set Closure and Construction of Artificial Setts
- Badger Mitigation Licences
When Should You Do A Badger Survey?
The good news is that badger surveys can be carried out throughout the year. However, keep in mind that you’ll get a more accurate reading of the situation between autumn and spring.
This is when vegetation is sparse, and it becomes easier to locate them and notice other signs. It’s important to note that badgers colonise quickly, so you should ideally run an updated survey right before any development work or construction is done.
Benefits of A Badger Survey
One of the key benefits of a badger survey is that it can establish whether badgers are present on or around a site. If badger activity is identified, the site design can be reviewed to avoid or minimise potential impacts. Where impacts cannot be avoided, an appropriate mitigation strategy may be required. Other benefits of undertaking a badger survey include:
Meeting Legal Responsibilities
Going ahead with projects or construction works that damages a sett or disturbs badgers without a licence is a criminal offense. Identifying these issues before any works begin allows the appropriate advice, mitigation or licencing requirements to be considered.
Stopping Any Project Delays
Discovering a badger sett after construction has already started can result in unexpected complications. Works may need to stop while the situation is assessed, potentially causing delays and additional costs.
Protecting Local Wildlife
A badger survey helps ensure that local badgers are considered before development takes place. By identifying setts and areas of badger activity, appropriate steps can be taken to avoid or reduce any potential disturbance.
This allows development to progress while taking reasonable measures to protect badgers and their habitats, helping to support local wildlife and maintain the ecological value of the surrounding area.
What Are The Next Steps?
If you are thinking a badger survey would benefit you, it’s best to be in a position to move forward with a development project knowing there are no badgers present. It’s not only about following the law, but conducting a survey will give you peace of mind as well.
Here at Greenlight, we are committed to providing professional advice and required services to steer development and other projects through planning policy and environmental legislation. If you require a badger survey, this is a service we offer and a project that we can help with.
If you need to book a badger survey in, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team. We’re happy to help and answer any questions you have.
