There are many aspects of badger work that you could get involved in as an active member of the North East Essex badger group. We encourage our members to attend their local meetings which are held once a month. These meetings are an informal gathering where members can exchange tales of their findings from that month, and find out what needs to be done in the month ahead!
Here are some of the things you could get involved in...
Sett monitoring - This is probably our most important job. Every sett is visited twice a year, records are kept with details of each entrance and any other signs of activity. This job is essential because if any disturbance was found at the sett, to secure a prosecution against the person or persons involved, we would need to have a record of activity there within a six month time frame. Many people have 'their own' setts to look after and enjoy their walks out to monitor them. There are plenty to go round, so if you think you could help with this task, please get in touch with us!
Road casualties - It is important that any dead badger found on the road is dealt with quickly and removed from the location. We welcome reports of dead badgers to our hotline, a member will be sent out, and the first thing they will do is check for any injuries that aren't consistent with a road traffic accident and report anything suspicious. It is also extremely important that between the months of February and May, we check to see whether the casualty is female, and if so, whether she is lactating. This could mean that a round-the-clock watch needs to be organised to attempt to rescue the cubs. The information regarding where the animals was found etc. is passed on once a year to the Mammal Society for their records. The badger will then be disposed of by that member.
Surveys/Development - With so much development in our area, there is always a need to be one step ahead. With the cooperation of local councils, we are able to assess work that is due to go ahead in our area, and survey the land if we are not already aware of a badger presence there. In the case of new roads, tunnels can be put in, and we have also had the need to relocate badgers to artificial setts.
Rescues - With the aid of the hotline, we are able to respond very quickly to any reports of an injured badger. Experienced members are equipped with cages and graspers, and are on 24hour call out. The group has one rehabilitation pen in use, and another one is in the process of being built.
Talks - With our aim to educate the public in all aspects of badger care and protection, it is essential that we get out there and talk to them! Illustrated talks are given to various other groups and organisations for a small donation.
Fundraising - We try to attend as many local shows and fetes as possible to increase our exposure and to raise funds to enable us to continue our work. We always welcome any help on the stand!
Hotline - More experienced members of the group take it in turns to hold the hotline for a month at a time. This jobs requires that person to coordinate members to respond to badger incidents, and can also involve giving advice on problems such as unwanted badgers in the garden etc.