Badgers

Oh you have my sympathy, I had this a few years back. It only stopped when new people moved into the house that backs onto mine with a large dog. Sorry I can’t be of more help.

Peanuts?

I had this problem on my front lawn four/five years ago. I tried various things to deter the culprit , including watering male urine around the perimiter!!! It didn't work.

In the end, my fascination with badgers and huge desire to actually see a live one from fairly close up took over, and I started watching for it out of the window instead. For me, it was worth it to see one up close.

The problem only lasted a couple of years, and then only for a couple of months in spring. Sadly though, the colony didn't seem to be doing well - I started regularly spotting badgers out looking for food during the day, and when that starts happening it can be s sign that something isn't right.
The sett I think it came from (which with binoculars I could see from a bedroom window) was abandoned a couple of years ago.
I would almost be happy to see signs of them in the garden again now.

Sealyham terriers?

There is a lot of information on the badgers trust website. Also, if you contact your local badgers group they will give advice on how to deter them safely and legally (they are a protected species).

I love your story Oldnproud. I love badgers and feel so bad for them, like all our wildlife, losing their homes to the continual building going on everywhere.

The young males get evicted from the sett, to make way for this years cubs? to be born they are the ones wandering, also a lot are killed by cars. None of that is going to stop the population growing, the young females are allowed to stay, are looked after and will breed

To stop them a strong low fence or a dog, dont feed them

Trouble is a neighbour feeds them

It definitely sounds like you need The Badgers Trust and there will even be a local group. I'm sure they will know what to do without harming them.

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This was one of a young pair that I came across last year while out walking one afternoon. I was walking across the fields when I spotted them on the footpath ahead. I slowly worked my way towards them and they were so oblivious to me that I spent 20 mins filming them on my phone. One came to within a meter of me, at which point I decided I should scare them off - for their own good, as they need to see us humans as a danger!

It was incredible, and nowhere near any gardens ☺

The Badgers trust give help on learning to live with them. Whilst I would never harm a badger, I do not like them , and our garden is a constant mess.
We shall continue to explore help.

David49

The young males get evicted from the sett, to make way for this years cubs? to be born they are the ones wandering, also a lot are killed by cars. None of that is going to stop the population growing, the young females are allowed to stay, are looked after and will breed

To stop them a strong low fence or a dog, dont feed them

There are dogs here and both sides of us, yet the badgers have trekked through our gardens for at least 20 years.

Our dogs have always been scared of them. Next door's two probably wouldn't be, but they're not roaming the garden at night.

When they root, they seem to be after those huge grubs that we get in the soil this time of year (don't know what they are or what they hatch into)

They could be after the chauffer grubs in your lawn. Often if you can get rid of the grubs they will go elsewhere in search of them.

Yes DH thinks chafer grubs. We shall get some nematodes I think, which will negate them.
Thank you all for your interest.

JamesandJon33

The Badgers trust give help on learning to live with them. Whilst I would never harm a badger, I do not like them , and our garden is a constant mess.
We shall continue to explore help.

I just read on Next Door that you should put down mesh on your lawn (wire or plastic I think). The grass will grown through but the badgers won't dig it up.

I would ask the Badgers Trust if that is acceptable however, As it's just something I read. I don't know how it might affect other wildlife, what if hedgehogs need to dig for food? 🦔🦝

Chestnut

JamesandJon33

The Badgers trust give help on learning to live with them. Whilst I would never harm a badger, I do not like them , and our garden is a constant mess.
We shall continue to explore help.

I just read on Next Door that you should put down mesh on your lawn (wire or plastic I think). The grass will grown through but the badgers won't dig it up.

I would ask the Badgers Trust if that is acceptable however, As it's just something I read. I don't know how it might affect other wildlife, what if hedgehogs need to dig for food? 🦔🦝

Badgers are quite powerful they will rip through plastic net easily, nematode treatment for chafer grubs sounds a better option.

Even better ask the neighbours to stop feeding them.

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We have woodland at the back of our garden and would regularly see badgers on a night - we had cameras up in there and at one time there were 9 of varying sizes so obviously families. We used to feed them unfortunately but stopped when the cameras picked up a large rat out there so don't know if they still pass through but we also have foxes, hedgehogs, squirrels, pheasants, the odd deer and a resident peahen who roams up and down the street - she's comes in the garden and has gone for my very large male cat who is now terrified of her!!

This guy came over the fence and had a wander a few weeks ago

My son had a driveway with borders of daffodil bulbs planted which were dug up every night. Armed with a bucket of water thinking it was a cat he stayed in his car one night on the driveway. At 3am he saw a big badger digging up his bulbs. He didn't get out the car until it was gone, poured away the water as badgers can be very vicious. He dug up the borders and extended the driveway.

JamesandJon33 good luck in your efforts reclaiming your lawn.
Badgers are total omnivores but their main source of protein
is earthworms, for which they have to dig, unless after rain.

Apparently badgers do not like sharp acidic smells. You are fighting a losing battle if your neighbours are feeding them.

Is anyone watching Secret Gardens?

Badgers,do and can spread disease to livestock,other animals humans and pet

They can also n carry parasites, including fleas, ticks, mites, and intestinal worms, which could potentially transfer to domestic animals through close contact.

You really need to talk you your neighbour about her putting a stop to feeding them.

I live in near a green belt area.A MN d we regularly plagued by foxes who are attracted by the food that is left out for them.

They stink
and defecate all over the communal gardens.

I would get in touch with your local council Environmental Health Dept.

Maybe,they can help.
Good Luck 🤞

I havnt heard of councils taking action on badgers, they are protected and the badger huggers would cause too much trouble, Foxes are routinely rounded up and rehomed when they cause a nuisance.
Since Badgers became protected numbers exploded, setts became over populated and TB spread in the badger population, and on to other wildlife and farm animals. If a sett becomes depopulated it's likely to be disease probably TB.
Diseases in wildlife are common wild rabbits an small mammals have similar problems, birds avian flu etc.

Strangely (and I’m willing to be told otherwise) badgers are rare around here in Durham. I’m 75 and have only ever seen one live animal. Both DDs in their 40’s have only seen the same dead one on a back road near Newcastle airport.
We’d love to have badgers and I’d be happy for them to forage in my garden.

Georgesgran

Strangely (and I’m willing to be told otherwise) badgers are rare around here in Durham. I’m 75 and have only ever seen one live animal. Both DDs in their 40’s have only seen the same dead one on a back road near Newcastle airport.
We’d love to have badgers and I’d be happy for them to forage in my garden.

They are nocturnal Ive only see 2 live wild badgers, but 10 yrs ago dead badgers on the roadside was very common, so there was a very large population. Since then there has been a badger cull and large numbers were shot, the current government has ended the cull.

SORES

Is anyone watching Secret Gardens?

David Attenborough narrated.
I wondered what anyone else made of it.
Badgers are shown, snuffling about but not really featured.