Photographing Badgers

SeagullSteve

SeagullSteve

Messages
322
Name
Steve
Edit My Images
Yes
Whilst laying down in a bluebell wood yesterday I heard a lot of rustling quiet close by. I looked across and saw a family of badgers. No photo's unfortunatley as they were in the undergrowth and I only had my 15-85 lens on. By the time I had managed to get my long lens on the noise of zips etc had distrubed them. I had a little look around and discovered a large set. So now that I know where the set is and I've sorted out where will be best to set up a hide how do I go about photographing them? I was fortunate yesterday in that I spotted them during daylight hours, but I gues I'll need to be there around dusk to have the best chance, but should I use flash. Multiple remote flash? Any do's/don'ts?

Any tips/help would be most welcome.
 
First of all, well done on seeing them at all. It must have been a brilliant experience, even without photos.

Opinion will probably divided on the use of flash. My opinion for what it's worth is that flash will scare them and you'll get one shot at best before they run off.

Dusk is probably a good time as you may be able to get a high ISO and use no flash.

Is there a spot on their usual pathways that would make a good background?

Badgers are suckers for peanuts so try baiting where you want to take the picture.

As it's an active set I would observe them first and not worry about the camera. Learn their routines, paths, times, etc. This will help when you want to get that elusive shot.

HTH,

Andy
 
just a thought - will your hide be fixed ? might tip-off some not-nice people

better some type of camo you can take away with you ?
 
Badgers don't seem to be bothered by light in my experience. I don't think their eyesight is particularly good. I photograph them in my garden using just a flash mounted on my camera. I don't really know anything about other types of flash.

The biggest problem is seeing them yourself. You were lucky to see them in daylight, but in my experience they wait until dark to come out. So, you will need some form of light to see them. I now put on an outside light in my garden. It does not seem to bother them.

One did jump when the first flash went off, but because he was too busy eating the peanut butter sandwiches I put out, he did not run off when I continued to use the flash.

I would be really interested in hearing if you have any success and the sort of settings that you use. I don't have a clue how to take photos in the dark, but managed this one.

Img_8352b.jpg


Good luck!

Jenny
 
Don't forget though, being any where near the sett is a criminal offence. and that you are supposed to have a licence when photographing a protected species. Being away from the sett on a well used route is probably a safer bet and less disturbance to the badgers..
 
You sure?

If you have found a sett, then you will see regular paths that the badgers use, all animals will take the easiest routes available, badgers are low slung so make quite a distinctive path, you should also see that the entrance to the holes are worn smooth by the badgers stomach scraping the floor when they enter, if they aren`t, then it may not be being used by brocks.

There are other signs that I won`t divulge here. Be aware that badgers are a member of the weasel family and will attack if they feel threatened, believe me, you don`t want a big boar badger coming at you.....:)

Edit to add.............Personally, I would not photograph them near the sett,leave them in peace near the sett.
 
daddy day care said:
Dusk is probably a good time as you may be able to get a high ISO and use no flash.

Is there a spot on their usual pathways that would make a good background?

Badgers are suckers for peanuts so try baiting where you want to take the picture.

As it's an active set I would observe them first and not worry about the camera. Learn their routines, paths, times, etc. This will help when you want to get that elusive shot.
Click to expand...

I know that they are nocturnal animals so I was surprised to see them in daylight. I was aiming to go back at dusk to see if I could see them emerging. I'm concered about the light given I'll be using a 100-400 lens so probably at 5.6. I've already seen there regular paths to and from the set. And good to know about the peanuts. Just bought a fresh 20kg bag for the birds in the garden so I guess some will go the badgers way then.

Yardbent said:
just a thought - will your hide be fixed ? might tip-off some not-nice people

better some type of camo you can take away with you ?
Click to expand...
Most definitely not fixed. Want as little as possible to give the set away. Even though the woods is a good 1/2 mile from any road and then the set is a good few yards from the footpath I'll try to keep is as secret as I can.

Rough Edges said:
Don't forget though, being any where near the sett is a criminal offence. and that you are supposed to have a licence when photographing a protected species. Being away from the sett on a well used route is probably a safer bet and less disturbance to the badgers..
Click to expand...

That's one of my concers. I'll look into it some more before I venture out again.

jennyb said:
I would be really interested in hearing if you have any success and the sort of settings that you use. I don't have a clue how to take photos in the dark, but managed this one.
Click to expand...

I'll let you know if I get anything and if I use flash or just go with a hi ISO.

You can be sure that I'll post the pictures on here.

fracster said:
You sure?

If you have found a sett, then you will see regular paths that the badgers use, all animals will take the easiest routes available, badgers are low slung so make quite a distinctive path, you should also see that the entrance to the holes are worn smooth by the badgers stomach scraping the floor when they enter, if they aren`t, then it may not be being used by brocks.

There are other signs that I won`t divulge here. Be aware that badgers are a member of the weasel family and will attack if they feel threatened, believe me, you don`t want a big boar badger coming at you.....:)
Click to expand...

I'll check out your link later - thanks. Yes entrances smooth - I did see the badgers disappear down one of the holes.

I did wonder about how they might react. I'm pretty sure that a couple of the badgers were young ones as they were quite small.
 
Steve, as stated in my edit, I would leave them alone near the sett.Find the paths and observe them for a while, then work out the best place to photograph them..........:thumbs:

The use of flash is another subject..............:D
 
I'll probably set up overlooking one of the well trodden paths that lead to/from the sett. I'll try to get any pics to start off with without flash - looks more natural.
 
fracster said:
You sure?

If you have found a sett, then you will see regular paths that the badgers use, all animals will take the easiest routes available, badgers are low slung so make quite a distinctive path, you should also see that the entrance to the holes are worn smooth by the badgers stomach scraping the floor when they enter, if they aren`t, then it may not be being used by brocks.

There are other signs that I won`t divulge here. Be aware that badgers are a member of the weasel family and will attack if they feel threatened, believe me, you don`t want a big boar badger coming at you.....:)

Edit to add.............Personally, I would not photograph them near the sett,leave them in peace near the sett.
Click to expand...



Section 3 part E (under interfering with Setts) http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1992/ukpga_19920051_en_1#pb1-l1g3

Any protected species, can come under similar rules.. Photographing Red Kites on the nest without a licence on private land for example is an offence, however from a footpath the situation is generally read differently. Feeding Kites or any other species is an offence too.. I believe punishment is in the region of £100, 000 fine and 5 years prison...
 
Interfering with badger setts

A person is guilty of an offence if, except as permitted by or under this Act, he interferes with a badger sett by doing any of the following things—

(a) damaging a badger sett or any part of it;

(b) destroying a badger sett;

(c) obstructing access to, or any entrance of, a badger sett;

(d) causing a dog to enter a badger sett; or

(e) disturbing a badger when it is occupying a badger sett,

intending to do any of those things or being reckless as to whether his actions would have any of those consequences.
Click to expand...

None of those are photographing badgers near a sett from a sensible distance away imo. :)
 
Joe T said:
None of those are photographing badgers near a sett from a sensible distance away imo. :)
Click to expand...

I read the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, and like you, could not see how it applied to photographers. I guess with using the 400mm end of my zoom I'll be 60-80ft from badgers, even if I were to photograph them coming out of the sett, which I don't intend to be doing. I was inadvertently closer to the set than that yesterday (15-20ft at most) and they didn't seem too fussed by my being there.
 
Joe T said:
None of those are photographing badgers near a sett from a sensible distance away imo. :)
Click to expand...

Exactly Joe, be sensible and considerate of the animal and you`ll be ok Steve.
 
Rough Edges said:
Section 3 part E (under interfering with Setts) http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1992/ukpga_19920051_en_1#pb1-l1g3

Any protected species, can come under similar rules.. Photographing Red Kites on the nest without a licence on private land for example is an offence, however from a footpath the situation is generally read differently. Feeding Kites or any other species is an offence too.. I believe punishment is in the region of £100, 000 fine and 5 years prison...
Click to expand...

I have just been on tyo the Chiltern Preservation society and this is what they had to say-

it is an offence to take pictures of Red Kites while nesting and you need a licence, however if the Red Kites are on your land and you can see them from eye level i.e from ground level then it is NOT AN OFFENCE however they would like you not to as they are shy birds and do not retrun to the nest if they are disturbed at all.

Any self repecting person would not do this anyway and leave them to nest in peace.

As for the feeding.

IT IS NOT AN OFFENCE to feed the kites but they would prefer you not to as they were introduced into the wild and like them to fend for themselves but they cannot stop you even if they are on private property, but as she said you can always argue this fact, and so many people do this they cannot stop it.

As for photgraphing them NO OFFENCE WHATSOEVER IF THEY ARE FLYING ABOVE AND AROUND YOUR HOUSE OR ANYWHERE if this is the case then that would apply to all wild birds and animals.

This was from the lady who works with the Kites at the Chiltern Preservation Society, so if you want to argue then I will gladly give you her telephone number and contact details.

I will add that I do feed the birds that are around be it kites, sparrows, finches, woodpeckers, tits woodpeckers, crows, chickens etc but not at a specific time of day or everyday, in fact they have not been fed for 2 days, but it just so happens that the Kites seem to be most prevailant around here and like the food whatever is thrown out be it bread on the bird table, pineapple on the yard or any other scraps I chuck out for the chickens.

Rigth I am off now to make a sign for the Kites which will read
"SORRY MATES :'( YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO EAT THIS FOOD SO GO AWAY" :lol: :lol:
 
Rough Edges said:
Section 3 part E (under interfering with Setts) http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1992/ukpga_19920051_en_1#pb1-l1g3

Any protected species, can come under similar rules.. Photographing Red Kites on the nest without a licence on private land for example is an offence, however from a footpath the situation is generally read differently. Feeding Kites or any other species is an offence too.. I believe punishment is in the region of £100, 000 fine and 5 years prison...
Click to expand...

I`m afraid that is incorrect and nonsensical.

The Badger Act was created to stop specific activities that were and still are a direct threat to badgers,photography was not on the list.
 
That seems to have stopped this thread then, :shrug: kites had a lovely meal today and ***** all over my sign :lol: :lol: :lol::lol:
 
Nicki, do you feed them everyday?
 
Am I allowed ?

I feed my chickens every day and the Kites help themselves, I have told them No but they won't listen !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
They eat what your chickens eat or eat the chickens?.......:D


Don`t know TBH, just interested. I feed lots of stuff up here, but not daily,some only weekly, I feel that helping things out is ok but if they become dependant then that is wrong.

Just my opinion Nicki and i`m not "having a go" at you at all..............:)
 
That o.k. :thumbs:

I do not feed them every day but I feed the chickens scraps and things and they come down for them also. They have been know to kill the small bantams we have here and also if we have chicks they have to be penned for that same reason.

When I do feed them I give them chicken wings, but not the same time every day, so they do not become dependant on me and to be quite honest I can leave it a few days then feed them again and they still come. I only have to whistle them :shrug:

They nest in the field outside here so they are always around my doorstep and seem to know and fly over in the hope that they may get something.

Any more info wanted then get in touch. (that is if I am not in prison :lol:)
 
Fair comment Nicki..........:thumbs:
 
If feeding Kites was wrong, Gigrin and several other feeding places would have been closed down years ago, and they DO feed at the same time everyday and have kites/buzzards/ravens etc that probably do rely on them for food.

With regard the original post, as long as what you are doing doesnt make the badgers change their behaviour you should be fine, so maybe watch them from a distance for a few days, check their behaviour out, and then if you do get a little closer make sure they carry on as normal. Could also contact your local Badger group and speak to them about your plans, they may be able to offer some advice as well. Should make for some excellent pictures, but we should all put the animal/bird first. Getting the picture at any cost isnt a particularly responsible or ethical thing to do !

Also if you havent seen it, Go Wild with Your Camera dvd shows Peter Cairns photographing Badgers, and is quite educational, especially as he uses flashes and shoots them (photographically) in the dark. Shows the best place to be to photograph them, and mainly where not to be !
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top