Badgers and Bivvis

[fishfosh]

Hey all,

We have quite an abundance of badgers down my way, and now seems to be the time of year that they start to become more active - out early (seen quite a few now in the early evening) and getting quite a few poking around our garden at night.

I'm on a farm, and have come across badgers many many times, and never came across an aggressive one (and I've been pretty close) but I have heard stories of aggression.

Would anyone have any problems with sleeping in a bivvi in badger territory?

I'm pretty confident that they wouldn't attack you - my concern is mainly that they have *terrible* eyesight. I spooked one in the yard once and it actually ran at me, to get through the gate behind me, until I let it know I was there by stamping

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Shewie]

I have a badger set which I keep an eye on and have spent quite a few nights under the stars watching them. The set is on the side of an old embankment and so I normally perch myself up on the top looking down at them. My bivvy site is probably 60 yds away from their set but it's close enough to see what's going on without getting in their faces.

 

[JonathanD]

No need to worry about the brocks. Tey are shy animals and will only attack when cornered and provoked. Like Shewie, I spend alot of time around my local set watching them go about their business, which at this time of year seems to consist of mainly cussing each other.

 

[EdS]

I've been grunted at by my locals when walking home through the woods with takeaway dhal and roti.


Other than that they just stand there and watch you.

 

[poddle]

What they lack in eye sight, they more than make up for with sense of smell, they know you are there, don't worry.

As has been said, if you don't corner one, they will not harm you and tend to trundle by like a slow train.

I have never heard of a badger attacking anyone that was not provoking it or harming it

 

[DavidJT]

Slept out last night (hammock), and was kept awake till all hours by a family of them squabbling at a set maybe 40yrds away. I'll remember the ear plugs next time.
Never occured to me to be worried about them, more
concerned about ticks usually.

 

[Barn Owl]

I'd be very rare for one to have a go at a human,wouldn't worry about it at all.

Have had a pheasant bite my ankles before and get even nastier after a 'shoo' with the stick,

 

[JonathanD]

I'd be very rare for one to have a go at a human,wouldn't worry about it at all.

Have had a pheasant bite my ankles before and get even nastier after a 'shoo' with the stick,

If one got that close to me and I had a stick, it would be dinner

 

[Barn Owl]

If one got that close to me and I had a stick, it would be dinner

Unfortunately it was on a reserve leased from a shooting estate and near the big pen.
Garaunteed i'd be the one to caught.

 

[Bushwhacker]

I've had some very close encounters and never once experienced any aggression. The ones I know don't care a jot if I'm there, maybe because they haven't ever had any human contact or see me as a threat.
Last year I was stood right next to the sett and the youngsters were playing around, and banging into my legs whilst their mum was doing the spring cleaning, rolling out the old bedding and collecting new stuff, one of them was laid on my boot for about five minutes scratching his belly.

 

[fishfosh]

I've had some very close encounters and never once experienced any aggression. The ones I know don't care a jot if I'm there, maybe because they haven't ever had any human contact or see me as a threat.
Last year I was stood right next to the sett and the youngsters were playing around, and banging into my legs whilst their mum was doing the spring cleaning, rolling out the old bedding and collecting new stuff, one of them was laid on my boot for about five minutes scratching his belly.

That must have been a fantastic experience!

 

[drewdunnrespect]

my god bushwhacker that is a youtube video of some merit right there if you have it filmed

 

[CLEM]

Dangerous when cornered otherwise their fine, they will go for you if their means of escape is blocked however. I remember a few years ago a fella had a few fingers bit off by a badger when the fool tried to pick one up that had got stuck in his garage all day.Lovely animals the badger, just mean when roused.

 

[Bushwhacker]

my god bushwhacker that is a youtube video of some merit right there if you have it filmed

I'm afraid I don't.
Mind you, with my camera skills I'm better off leaving that sort of stuff to the great Johnny Kingdom. He's made some excellent footage.

 

[pango]

I walked into a badger a good few years ago when out fishing for sea-trout at night. I don't know who got the biggest surprise. I think I might have accidentally booted it up the butt and got a thump on the leg for my presumption before he shuffled off complaining about some folk's manners these days.

When I waded into the river to start fishing, I realised my waders were leaking and got out to have a look. There were four lines gouged deep enough into the rubber to expose the canvas.

You might agree that the memory was worth a pair of waders.

 

[DavidJT]

I walked into a badger a good few years ago when out fishing for sea-trout at night. I don't know who got the biggest surprise. I think I might have accidentally booted it up the butt and got a thump on the leg for my presumption before he shuffled off complaining about some folk's manners these days.

When I waded into the river to start fishing, I realised my waders were leaking and got out to have a look. There were four lines gouged deep enough into the rubber to expose the canvas.

You might agree that the memory was worth a pair of waders.

Nice story Pango.
Reminds me of one of my own nocturnal Sea Trout fishing trips on a small island just off Sweden, when a seal popped up, big eyes staring at me, about 2m in front of me. Was a magical moment, but not much chance of a fish with that chap around.

 

[scubapauly]

Never had any issues with the badgers at the sett I've been watching for the past year.

I've put several videos of them on Youtube if anyone is interested
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9F5ylUPfLE

Paul.

 

[Graham_S]

I regularly used to meet a Badger when I walking home from the pub on friday nights.
We would meet at the top of the road, and walk for about 1/4 of a mile when he would wander off down towards a local river.
It was uncanny.
Same time, same route each week.
Badger didn't seem phased.
He liked kebab meat though.

I've had a badger investigate my camp a couple of times too.

 

[JonathanD]

I regularly used to meet a Badger when I walking home from the pub on friday nights.
We would meet at the top of the road, and walk for about 1/4 of a mile when he would wander off down towards a local river.
It was uncanny.
Same time, same route each week.
Badger didn't seem phased.
He liked kebab meat though.

I've had a badger investigate my camp a couple of times too.

Kebab meat! I'da thought even a badger would regard that as suspicious given their superior noses.

 

[pango]

Kebab meat! I'da thought even a badger would regard that as suspicious given their superior noses.

Wouldn't that depend on whether the badger had been at the batter himself. A kebab might be equally attractive to p#ssed badger and man alike!