BADGER

One of the most widely distributed of all European mammals, the badger can be found almost everywhere except for Iceland, the far north of Scandinavia and most Mediterranean islands.

Such a huge range reflects the animal’s adaptability, for it is equally at home in the boreal forests of the north as the maquis of the Mediterranean or the farmlands of France.

By far the densest populations have been found in England, with as many as 19.7 animals in a square kilometre compared with averages of one in the Netherlands and up to 3.2 in Sweden.

Few countries grant the badger protection. In France, it is still widely regarded as a beast of la chasse, and there are many dedicated badger (blaireau) hunting clubs. In Germany, the dachshund was bred for badger hunting: the word dachs is German for badger. Today, more badgers are killed in Europe by road traffic than by man.

The water-retaining fur of the badger has long been valued for shaving brushes and these remain popular in Britain. These are generally imported from China, where they are made from the hair of the Asian badger.

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