Late last night I was sitting in this very study battering away at the keyboard when I heard something outside, beyond the kitchen door. What could it be? There was a thumping and a bumping and a scratching. It's not the first time I have heard it.
I tiptoed into the dark kitchen and headed for the light switch. This time I remembered to go for the first of three switches - the one that illuminates the outside area around our kitchen door. If I had been thinking really clearly I would have grabbed my camera because I correctly guessed what I was about to see.
It was a badger standing on the black coffin, trying to remove the three bricks I had previously placed on the coffin lid. Clearly it was after the bird seed in the bin. He or she was no more than three feet away from me.
The badger stopped what it was doing and looked up at the kitchen door. They have notoriously poor eyesight but I suspect that the creature saw me and soon jumped down from the coffin.
However, he or she did not run away immediately. Six feet down the path the badger turned and looked up at me as I opened the door and for a brief moment our eyes were locked together. Then I hissed and the badger ran away as fast as its little legs would carry it. Up the lawn and off into the night.
It was a magical encounter. I am a big fan of badgers and resentful of the persecution they have endured from both official and unofficial quarters in recent decades. It is as if their history on this island bears no weight. They were here before human beings.
I have blogged about badgers before and I will remember last night's encounter for the rest of my days. God Save The Badger!
I have never seen a badger outside of a zoo. Google informs me that while the American version looks like yours, they aren't very closely related.
ReplyDeleteOurs is the Eurasian badger.
DeleteNo badgering from me today. I like his mask.
ReplyDeleteThat warning mask evolved many thousands of years ago Bruce.
DeleteI would most certainly scream if I encountered one, cute though it may be.
ReplyDeleteThe badger might scream even louder Margaret - cute as you may be.
DeleteWhy are badgers so maligned? They are lovely creatures although I didn't think they liked being around people. Maybe times are a chaninging in badger land.
ReplyDeleteLike foxes, many of our badgers now thrive on the fringes of human settlements. A tale has been widely put about that badgers can give farm animals TB. This notion has been used to justify secret nighttime culling by government-employed marksmen. Thousands have been shot.
DeleteIt was a very special moment. I've never seen a badger, unless I have forgotten about seeing one in a zoo. Their faces are memorable.
ReplyDeleteIt is said that their markings evolved to confuse and warn off predators in times long gone and that none of those old enemies remain.
DeleteSo I guess the badger won in this encounter and maybe helped all badgers a bit.
ReplyDeleteWell, he didn't get in the coffin this time but a month ago he ate all our suet fat balls. Greedy bugger!
DeleteHe'll most likely be back and you'll be prepared next time!
ReplyDeleteI don't want him nicking our bird seed.
DeleteUnfortunately badgers, like many other larger UK mammals, no longer have an apex predator to keep their numbering check. Without man functioning as that Alex predator, in some (many?) areas their numbers have increased to such an extent that they have become a major nuisance, as have eg deer.
ReplyDeleteI would rather see badgers on the green leather seats in The House of Commons. The human population of this island has burgeoned beyond belief. Where are the apex predators for them?
DeleteI quite agree that recent immigration levels (an increase of 10million in 20 years) is unsustainable for this country, however none of the major parties is prepared to address it, in fact they actively connive at forcing more and more people into what is one of the most densely populated countries on earth.
DeleteI would be happy to lead The Badger Party to victory. You can be The Home Secretary but you will need to wear a badger mask in "The House" and change your name to Will Badger.
Delete(Don't worry! I am just being silly!)
I don't know much about badgers but they are cute. The one in the photo looks like it's dressed for Halloween. One of the techs I work with, her nickname is honey badger.
ReplyDeleteDoes she eat wild bird seed?
DeleteNo, but she's fierce.
DeleteWhy isn't her nickname beaver? Perhaps that is yours.
DeleteI have seen many badgers in my lifetime. Also at one stage we did 'badger watch' on a sett from which the lowlife who capture badgers then set their dogs on them operated. Vicious creatures, the men not the badgers, killed a friend's dog. The police was involved and of course eventually it was illegal to bait badgers. The 'culling' of these creatures seems to have died down though hasn't it?
ReplyDeleteNo the culling has not reduced. It is still going on and some marksmen have made a lot of money from the ill-considered slaughter.
DeleteI have never heard of a badger in a suburban garden before. Are you close to countryside? What an amazing thing to happen.
ReplyDeleteThere are setts within our leafy suburbs - safer than the true countryside. I have seen badgers before around here.
DeleteI would love to see a badger up close in the wild, but I have not yet been so lucky. My Dad met one on the path leading to his hut in the woods where he stayed many weekends while he was still working, and I was there with him often, but not on that particularly weekend. He told me of the encounter and showed me with his hands how large the badger had been, clearly at home in his woods, and not at all afraid of my Dad, who stood perfectly still to let the badger pass before he kept on walking to the hut.
ReplyDeleteWhen you "meet" a badger you are in the presence of an animal that "owned" the land long before humans came along.
DeleteWhat an amazing encounter. I have only ever seen dead ones squished on the road.
ReplyDeleteWe saw more dead badgers than hedgehogs these days. And yes - "amazing" is right.
DeleteYou need an IR night camera.
ReplyDeleteI am not a technical geek like you Mr Dungham.
Delete
DeleteNo more technical than a digital camera, which is what they are. You just take out the SD card and put it in the computer. It is amazing what goes on in the garden at night. But if it is going to outfox you I'll stop badgering.
Keep beavering away!
DeleteI know nothing about badgers and will read your link in just a minute. I have three of those storage boxes in my shed, one is packed full of Christmas Decorations from when I had a house, two hold who-knows-what (I've forgotten) and I have one in the back porch which is empty but stuff is stacked on top of it which can't be moved because I have nowhere else to put it, mostly bags of cat supplies. They are really handy those "coffins".
ReplyDeleteYou should order one for your eventual demise - many years from now. You could put in a few books and a radio with spare batteries. Don't forget a comfy pillow.
DeleteLeave it a pint of Badger beer and a bowl of cheap dog food and you will have a visitor every night.
ReplyDeleteStop badgering me Dave!
DeleteNo badgers here. They, like most of the other wildlife, have been killed off by the local farmers with their great big guns and a penchant for shooting at anything smaller than they are.
ReplyDeleteTo some farmers all wildlife is threatening - from crows and pigeons to foxes and butterflies. Kill for profit seems to be their motto.
DeleteI'm petty sure I've never seen a badger in my life! It's a pretty thing, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteThey live in family groups in underground chambers - usually in woodland. These "setts" can be thousands of years old
DeleteReminds me of a raccoon. You might put more bricks on your "coffin"!
ReplyDeleteIt is a bit like a raccoon but you have your own American badgers too. I think I will bring the bird seed in the house for a few days.
DeleteI am not sure who would have screamed first, the badger or me.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of a badger attack upon a human - but a sweet bear now that's a different issue.
DeleteI have never seen a badger, but I agree with you about their persecution. I hate the way they are treated by the livestock industry and DEFRA.
ReplyDeleteThat bottom picture is amazing! Do you know who took it?
I found it in Google images.
Delete