American badger in UK?

Q

I recently saw an American badger at the side of the road in Leicestershire. Unfortunately, it had been hit by a car. How long have they been running around in this country?

MP, by email

A

The Badger Trust believes this is a misidentification as it is unaware of this particular species being in the locality. The local Leicestershire and Rutland Badger group also said that it has no knowledge of American badgers in the county. It thinks it could have been a polecat as they are a similar size and colour.