Living symbol of the British countryside
ACCORDING to readers, it’s been a good year for badgers so far, not least as evidenced by the multitude of video clips I have been shown, of these big beauties in their back gardens, from Glossop to Accrington.
Although the jury has never been unanimous, on whether it is always a good idea to tempt badgers and foxes close to domestic premises, it cannot not be denied that they are impressive creatures.
So far, my favourites have included: the ‘argument’ between Old Brock and the incumbent Moggie over the contents of a tin of dog food (the cat won), the badger which led three youngsters to an everstocked patio, or even the film of a young badger going nose to nose with a puppy, on either side of a pair of French windows.
In amongst the cinematic offerings, there have been a number of questions about Meles meles (European Badger) so the Laughing Badger will attempt to cover the natural and unnatural history of these everpopular mammals over the next few weeks.
Badgers are short, stout, powerful animals that live in underground setts that can extend well over 50 metres long. Members of the mustelid family (which includes the martens, otters, polecats, ferrets and the wolverine), the European badgers range extends from Britain, across Europe and to the middle east.
The badger is one of the UK’s most recognised and popular mammals, bringing pleasure to thousands of people and is a living symbol of the British countryside.
The badger can grow up to one metre in size and has loosely fitting skin which makes it difficult for an antagonist to get a firm grip of the badger in a fight.
A thick layer of subcutaneous (under the skin) fat is laid down during autumn in order for the badger to live off fat reserves when going into torpor during winter.
Body weight of adult badgers varies with the seasons, the area in which they live, the amount of food available, and their age.
Badgers are at their heaviest in late autumn as they fatten up for winter.
They then feed less, spend more time inactive underground, and their weight falls away. Sows (females) are at their lightest after giving birth.
In most nocturnal animals the eyes are large to gather as much light as possible. However, in the badger, the eyes are relatively small suggesting that they do not rely heavily on vision.
It is also likely that badgers do not see in colour, owing to them being nocturnal. It has been suggested that badgers can see shapes and silhouettes.
More on the badger next week but in the meantime... the name of the Rangers football ground ‘Ibrox’ means home of the badger, and this from a Medieval Book on Witchcraft: “A tuft of hair gotten from the head of a full-grown Brock is powerful enough to ward off all manner of witchcraft; these must be worn in a little bag made of cat’s skin – a black cat – and tied about the neck when the moon be not more than seven days old, and under that aspect when the planet Jupiter be mid-heaven at midnight.!”