Badger
Meles meles
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
Badgers are present in the Formby pinewoods and woodland edges. The sandy substrate makes burrowing easy and setts — sometimes with multiple generations of excavation — can be impressive. Badgers are primarily earthworm hunters, spending hours working through damp ground in wet weather, using their sensitive nose and strong front claws. They're sociable and live in family groups called clans. Watching a sett at dusk on a still summer evening is one of the most accessible wildlife experiences near Formby.
At a Glance
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family | Mustelidae |
| Habitat | Woodland · Sandy woodland bank (for setts) · Farmland edge · Scrub |
| Diet | Earthworms (primary food), beetles, small mammals, fruit, bulbs — opportunistic omnivore |
| UK population | Around 400,000 — population has grown significantly since 1970s |
| Sefton Coast | Present in the Formby pinewoods and woodland edges; setts in sandy banks |
| Conservation | UK Green List |
Where to See It
Formby pinewoods and woodland edges. Setts (large burrow systems) visible in sandy banks.
Identification
Unmistakeable. Grey body, black and white striped face. Heavy, wide body on short legs. Strong front claws. Shuffling, distinctive gait. Black and white face stripes visible even in poor light.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Find a sett in the Formby pinewood area by looking for a large hole with sandy spoil heap and tracks. Sit quietly downwind at dusk in May or June — Badgers emerge predictably at dusk when undisturbed.
Conservation Status
UK Green List
This species has a favourable conservation status in the UK and remains an important part of Sefton Coast biodiversity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find a Badger sett?
Badger setts are large — much larger than Fox or Rabbit holes. The entrance is often D-shaped (wider than tall), with a large spoil heap of earth, old bedding (dried grass) and grey-black badger hairs caught on the surrounding vegetation. Well-used setts have worn pathways radiating outward. Sandy woodland edges are the best places to look on the Sefton Coast.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.