EMERGENCE TIMES OF THE BADGER IN SOUTH-WEST ESSEX 23
The Emergence Times of the Badger
in South West Essex
By D. R. Scott
The attached graph gives the emergence times of Badgers at
three different setts in the Epping Forest area in South West
Essex. The setts are marked A, B and C, the fourth curve being
sunset times which are included for comparison. The times given
are in Greenwich Mean Time, and are the average times in each
month over the three years, 1959 to 1961. It will be seen that
the curves of these three setts follow the same pattern, but differ
in their actual times, some being later or earlier than others. It
is interesting to consider the various factors which may influence
these differences, and to weigh up their particular merits.
In all three cases, the setts are actively used all round the
year, and cubs have been born each spring in the years under
investigation. There is, therefore, no reason to believe that
emergence times vary, because the number of Badgers fluctuate,
as may be the case at a sett where a breeding pair is not in
residence.
In the case of sett A, the location is at Loughton Camp in
Epping Forest. Here the ground is covered with high forest,
without much undergrowth, especially in the actual sett area, the
nearest cover is bracken, which is some fifty yards from the main
sett area. The ground is undulating all around, but the sett is on
a flat place in the middle of the old "camp" which is fairly high
up. The Badgers here are not disturbed very much, the constant
noise of distant traffic does not seem to worry them, The sett is,
however, close to several well-used foot-paths, and it may well be
that people, out for a walk late on summer evenings, could disturb
the Badgers and make their emergence later. In fact, this hap-
pened when the author was watching at this sett, on a number of
occasions. It is also interesting to note that the ground over the
whole sett area is covered by a thick carpet of dead beech leaves
which cause the Badgers to make considerable noise when they
do emerge and begin to move around. This may also have the
affect of making them wait later before emerging.
As regards sett B, where emergence is generally earlier than
at A, this sett is on private land near Epping Forest, and is not
subject to human interference in any way which might affect
the times of emergence. The cover is better than at A. a few
bushes being near some of the sett entrances, and also the whole
area is situated on the side of a steep bank which may make the
badgers feel less exposed. The floor is largely covered with grass
in the vicinity of the sett, enabling the Badgers to move quietly.
Here again there is some background noise although not as much
as at A,