Norfolk Badgers

Norfolk has traditionally been, and continues to be, a game shooting county (pheasant, partridge and duck). In the past the badger was heavily culled in the pursuit of protecting game, and its population in Norfolk was greatly reduced.

Nowadays badgers are protected by legislation, particularly the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. Mainly as a result of such legislation, badger numbers in Norfolk have increased dramatically, especially over the last five years.

However, Norfolk badgers are still at risk from several directions, including:

• Housing developments and road building
• Road traffic, including increasing holiday traffic
• Illegal trapping, and snares set for foxes
• Badger digging (rare in Norfolk)
• Disturbance by dog walkers and out of control dogs

There is no Badger Group for Norfolk. However John Crouch, a Wildlife Management consultant, is working to study and protect badgers in the county. If you would like to learn more about Norfolk badgers, share information about them or help with their protection, you can join the Norfolk Badgers Yahoo Group.