I just ran over a beautiful badger

[Marissa5]

And I feel sick with guilt. I was doing 65 in a 70, it must have run in front of the car in front as it suddenly swerved and as it did this huge badger just appeared in front of me. There was at least 2 cars distance between me and the car in front of me (far more in fact) which makes me feel like I should have had time to react but it just happened the fast. There was a car behind me but quite far back so I definitely could have slowed down more, but reacting to the car in front swerving suddenly, the badger and looking in my mirrors then slowing down for the badger just wouldn't have been possible in what realistically was a split second. Just feel awful. It's the first time I've ever seen a badger.

Can you go back ? It might be alive and suffering and need to see a vet

Is it dead?

How horrible for you. But please don’t blame yourself, there wasn’t anything you could have done. I’ve narrowly missed deers before, hit many rabbits. It’s awful and sad but it’s nobody’s fault. If you think it may have survived you can ring a local wildlife place to try and track it.

Driving down to Devon today, we saw so many dead Badgers by the roadside. Don't beat yourself up.

Sorry for you, sounds very traumatic. And sorry for the poor badger too.

It would be a good idea to contact local rescue centres in any case. If it was a female there may be cubs nearby.

Not your fault at all

At that speed I doubt it would have survived. You were reacting to the car in front. Its awful but it happens.

Don't go back you might run over another one.

Sorry, op- what an upsetting thing to happen. I don’t think it sounds like you did anything wrong.

It wasn't possible. No hard shoulder on either side. I went over it with both wheels. God it was horrible. I've reported it to the badger trust. I very much doubt it is still alive.

You should report it, really
https://www.gov.uk/report-dead-animal

Sorry, just seen you have reported it.

Please don’t beat yourself up. Are you ok? It is quite shocking running over an animal. There is usually nothing you could have done differently. I ran over a deer once, it was awful. Came from nowhere.

I've done this on their local website and to the badger trust.

I'm fine just feel so sorry for the poor thing and extremely guilty.

Badgers are really low and heavy. I can't imagine you've not damaged your car too.

Going to check in the morning. Car looked ok and it went directly under the wheel but it's too dark to see properly.

Theirs nothing you can do now, you've done everything you can.

I've just looked at the car and apart from a deteriorating dust cover it looks fine. It's a mitsubishi outlander so fingers crossed no damage to the car.