Meet The Badgers

If you’re fascinated by wildlife, you’re in for a treat.

Here at The Little House, we’re lucky enough to have an established badger sett in the woodland. Badgers have lived here for generations, and we’ve been able to watch their lives unfold through our cameras.

They are wonderfully private, nocturnal animals, so getting to see them going about their daily lives is a real privilege.

Meet our badgers

When we first set up our live badger cameras, we soon discovered three regular residents.

Our grandson named them Bob, Susie and Jimmy, and we gradually became familiar with their individual characteristics.

Then Jimmy surprised us. One spring, she emerged from the sett with four cubs!

Watching those little bundles of energy grow, play and explore was a real joy. And it also taught us just how difficult it can be to keep track of who’s who once the youngsters grow up and neighbouring badgers start making the occasional appearance.

This year’s cubs

Our latest little stars are Diglet and Pudding, names chosen by our guests.

Watching badger cubs emerge from the sett and gradually become more confident is something very special. They are playful, inquisitive and, at times, completely chaotic!

If you’re lucky enough to visit at the right time, you may get to see them for yourself.

And if you don’t…

There’s always the badger cam.

The badger cam

Our cameras give you a fascinating glimpse into the secret world of these nocturnal animals. There are three camera views, allowing you to watch the badgers as they emerge from the sett, forage and interact with one another. It’s amazing how quickly you start recognising their personalities and habits.

You may only intend to have a quick look…then suddenly an hour has disappeared.

A few things you might not know about badgers

Badgers are fascinating animals, and the more you learn about them, the more interesting they become.

🦡 They can live for up to 15 years in the wild.

🦡 They have an excellent sense of smell and hearing, but relatively poor eyesight. This is one reason they can disappear surprisingly quickly if they sense movement or detect an unfamiliar smell.

🦡 Autumn is an important time for feeding. Badgers increase their food intake and build up body fat to provide reserves for the colder months.

🦡 That lovely soft-looking coat isn’t actually soft! Badger fur is quite coarse. Unlike fox or rabbit fur, the individual hairs are oval in cross-section, which means that if you roll a badger hair between your thumb and finger, it won’t roll smoothly.

🦡 Badgers live in underground homes called setts. Some setts can be used for centuries and may be home to many generations of badgers.

🦡 Setts can be surprisingly large. The largest recorded sett in Britain extended over an area of around 15 by 35 metres and had 12 entrances. A typical sett may house around six badgers.

🦡 Badgers are very house-proud. They don’t generally take food underground and won’t use their sett as a toilet.

🦡 Badgers don’t hibernate. During the colder months they enter a state of torpor. They still emerge to feed, but usually spend less time above ground.

When is the best time to see badgers?

Badgers are nocturnal, so your best chance of seeing them is around dusk or just before dawn.

Spring and summer can be particularly exciting, especially when cubs are around.

You may spot them from the garden as they emerge and begin foraging for food.

But remember, these are wild animals.

The quieter you are, the better your chances. Badgers have poor eyesight but a very good sense of smell, so avoid strong perfumes and try not to make sudden movements. Dark clothing can also help you blend into the surroundings.

And however tempting it might be…please don’t feed the badgers.

We are members of the Badger Trust and take our responsibility as custodians of this ancient badger sett, and the wellbeing of its residents, very seriously.

The badgers were here long before us, and our role is simply to give them the space and protection they need to continue living naturally.

See them for yourself

For wildlife lovers, badger watching in Surrey is a truly memorable experience.

Sometimes you’ll see them on camera.

Sometimes you’ll be lucky enough to see them from the garden.

And by arrangement, guests can also have a more direct outdoor experience and watch the badgers emerge and feed in person.

But there’s one thing we can never guarantee…

The badgers are wild.

They decide when the show starts. 🦡

Did you know?

The word badger has several possible origins. One theory is that it comes from the French word bêcheur, meaning someone who digs. Another suggests it comes from the distinctive white markings on the animal’s face, which were thought to resemble a badge.

Interestingly, the Welsh word for badger is “mochyn daear”, which literally translates as “earth pig”.

Not the most flattering name for such a magnificent animal, but rather charming nonetheless.