Adult badger

These nocturnal mammals are very secretive underground dwellers. Although quite common in the UK, they are difficult to spot. They have poor eyesight, but excellent hearing and a very good sense of smell. Badgers are Britain’s largest land predator.
Badgers live in large family groups in linked underground tunnels called a sett. They keep setts very clean, sometimes bringing their bedding of dry grass, bracken and straw out to air in the sun.
It is illegal to harm badgers, or obstruct or destroy their setts. Sadly, thousands of badgers are killed in road traffic accidents every year, meaning they are endangered in some parts of the UK.