I saw a badger today!!

[Soubriquet]

I was only my way to work, when I saw something out of the corner of my eye.

Thought it was a cat but no! It was a very happy looking badger snuffling around for food.

I was so excited because it was the first (live) badger I’ve seen!

[drinkingwineoutofamug]

Was it eating mash potato?

Sorry couldn't resist 🤣🤣

[ShowOfHands]

Where was it?

A badger out in a public space looking for food is quite rare and sometimes indicates a problem with the animal. We had one last summer. It was on a local housing estate and people thought it was a lovely thing to see but it wasn't well at all as it turns out.

[IncludeWomenInTheSequel]

Aw that's amazing! I would love to see a badger 🦡

[Sparklingbrook]

Awww. We have one that comes to visit every night, he's as wide as he is long and he sniffles about for whatever food the foxes have left.

Other than him they tend to be roadkill around here.

[Soubriquet]

He was on a bridge but we are out in the country so the bridge was right next to a a lot of growth and fields so I hope he was ok.

He certainly seemed healthy enlightened form a distance

[Year2021]

My mum always feeds the badger and the other day she sent me this pic

[Hoppinggreen]

Lucky you, I have seen most wildlife but never a live badger.
There are supposed to be some around here but I’ve not seen one in over 20 years of living here

[Hoppinggreen]

Glad yours was enlightened as well, would want him to remain in ignorance

[CentrifugalBumblePuppy]

There’s a camp I’ve used that has a large badger population. In summer, as there is a ready supply of food (mostly from bin bags from slightly less scrupulous groups!) you’d see them after dusk, rummaging around. Wary of people, but used to them. I don’t think there was a night we didn’t see at least one! Magnificent creatures.

[CentrifugalBumblePuppy]

(It took over 40 years to see my first one lol).

[AcornAutumn]

I've never seen a badger, how exciting!

[LemonBreeland]

I've only ever seen live badgers twice in my life. Once was the middle of the night driving up the drive of a country house hotel. There were 4 or 5 who crossed on front of us.

The other time was 2018 and sadly I ran it over. Cam out of nowhere on an A road, and there was no opportunity to swerve and avoid it.

[ShowOfHands]

I see them occasionally in the fields around our village but only if running in the dark (with a head torch). I'd hope that if he wasn't in an urban setting in full daylight, he's just out having a snuffle round for food. When they start wandering in the daytime in populated areas, it's sometimes an issue apparently. I'm no expert and only know this from the hoohah on the community FB pages last year. Started as people sharing cute photos and video of Mrs Badger, turned out Mrs Badger was actually pretty ill and we only found out when a local badger enthusiast chipped in and arranged to have her caught. It was a nice antithesis to the dog poo posts.

[ScrambledSmegs]

Years ago I was out for an evening run and realised there was a badger keeping pace with me on the opposite side of the road. It was an amazing moment (for me, doubt the badger was similarly impressed).

Sadly a few days later there was a dead badger found in the same area, I presume it was the one I saw, and it was probably unwell when I was running 'with' it.

Anyway hopefully the one you saw will be healthier OP.

[Placard4]

Otters are the best Mustelids

[Soubriquet]

We have otters in the local river too!!

And a seal has been spotted once or twice

[Placard4]

You seem to have great wildlife around you. gives you a great honour and big buzz when you see them. Nature lifts your spirit,enjoy

[dreamingofsun]

we live next to a badgers set in the middle of a town centre. they come and dig my lawn up sometimes. Be very careful if you ever see one with its young as they can get quite aggressive and are strong.

[AlanThePig]

Bigger than you think aren't they?
I do love a badge ❤️

[Soubriquet]

Much bigger yes!

[ZooeyS]

Oooh I was going for a run really early in the morning over summer and looked over my shoulder to see a badger coming along behind me! They are really fast when they get going.

[SarahAndQuack]

It's unlikely it indicates a problem - at this time of year they often do forage longer hours, both because it's cold and there's less around, and because the light levels are lower. Same with owls - round here we see them hunting through a lot of the day, and I thought maybe there was a problem, but apparently, they just do in the very dark bits of winter.

[TracyBeakerSoYeah]

Mash potato, that made me laugh @drinkingwineoutofamug*

[peak2021]

They are lovely creatures, I had one in the back garden about 20 years ago.

[vanillandhoney]

We see them around here a fair bit (Cumbria). They're surprisingly large!

Sadly the last one I saw had been hit by a car