The sett DESIGNER

Deep beneath the forest floor, badgers (Meles meles) build burrows featuring a sophisticated system of tunnels and chambers. Prepping for parenthood, expectant sows add nursery nooks at the beginning of the year – using grass, moss and bracken for bedding. Born with their eyes closed, babies begin to open them aged five weeks old, at which point they start to survey the sett and the area around it (sticking closely to their mother’s side for safety). Learning to feed and forage might be serious business, but cubs still make plenty of time for play, tearing around tree trunks for a game of chase with their siblings.