How to photograph wild Badgers
You can photograph wild badgers in the UK, all you have to do is follow these 5 simple steps.
Step 1: Research badgers
Find out everything you can about their behaviour, what they eat, where they live, how their group composition is made up and so on.
The more you know about badgers the easier it will be for you to find them in the wild, so this part is key in your journey to photography success. Things like them being nocturnal mean you are only likely to spot them at sunrise and sunset for example.
Step 2: Scout your local area Firstly the immediate walkable areas then areas a bit further away by car or public transport.
you'll be surprised what wildlife you will find simply by walking outside your front door and exploring. It was only last week that I myself found a brand new badger sett only a 5 minute walk from my house (link to vlog at top of page). If you happen to live in an area that is not best suited for badger territory check a map and look for farm land and woodland as this is where you are most likely going to find a badgers home (sett) because they like to live on the edge of a woodland.
Step 3: Gain some basic tracking skills
If you can spot a path in the wild such as where long grass has been squashed by an animal regularly using the same path then you will increase chances of a sighting significantly. This is not as hard as it may seem, next time you're outside have a look on the edges of fields or in the grass along a river and you will likely spot holes and paths that are used by wild animals.
Step 4: Be patient
You could have all the knowledge and skills in the world or even know where a group of badgers live and still not see any if you don't wait long enough or try frequently enough. Badgers can be both predictable and unpredictable (it depends on the group). For example the new sett I found just last week only shows badgers every now and then and sometimes I just don't get to see any before the sun has gone down. This is why you must be patient.
Step 5: respect the wildlife
If you do not respect the wildlife you will most likely never see anything for very long. It is essential you stay quiet and do not perform any sudden movements. Badgers are aware of their surroundings mostly by their extremely good sense of smell, therefore, refrain from putting on aftershaves or perfume and ensure you sit downwind of the sett so that they do not pick up your unfamiliar smell.
If you want to know more check out my vlog which can be found through this link:
https://youtu.be/lDxCWKTReO4