Aggressive Badger!

[devon deer stalker]

This was a first for me, I was waiting for the deer to appear and feed on the Kale cover crop, broad daylight, I could see the Kale moving so thought probably a fox walking towards me, it got to about 6' away and sensed something so turned tail and ran away, out of sight in the thick crop, then it decided to head towards me again, it was a badger, and a really p1ssed off one at that, it went to bite me, I kicked out and hit it with my sticks, and at that point it got the message.
I can only assume it was ill (maybe TB?) being out in day light, I have seen them before in day light and they looked sick, I wasn't on a well worn badger trail, weird.
Anyone else experienced this?

This was in Devon, I only hope the beavers they have released down here don't do the same, an aggressive beaver doesn't bear thinking about

Cheers

Richard

 

[splash]

I once had a similar experience at an estate in Northampton, used sticks to prod the attacker and it eventually moved off

 

[CarlW]

A friend of mine got chased by one once. He was screaming like a girl as this b&w devil chased him round the trees. I couldn't stop laughing.

Twenty years ago, it was, and I still won't let him forget it...

 

[plonker]

Funny thing is im not brave enough to wait till its within prodding distance
I tend to scuff the ground or click my sticks together if it gets to within 5m.
Bit worried i might break the strap on my handbag if i have to run

 

[243varmint]

You seen the teeth on the buggers.
Wouldn't want one of those clamped around my leg.
Haven't seen that before Richard.
Thought there weren't many around in those parts

 

[gixer1]

See attached photo....you will notice the rifle barrel at the ready - had a badger approach me one night as I got out of a high seat...same sort of thing - it looked like it was going to have a go...

 

[gixer1]

Just found the photos from the one that looked like it was going to have a go, and it was the same rifle I had, you can see the tree I came down out of the high seat and it wasn’t keen on retreating! I moved away and it came towards me.... I’m not too lucky with badgers, had a bast*rd destroy my lawn too...

 

[old keeper]

Years ago I had a similar experience. again in daylight, in the end, I shot it, this was pre-ban! it really had a go and wasn't going to back up. That was at Christow, possibly near you Richard.

243Varmint said he didn't think there were many down this way, Devon probably has/had one of the highest populations of badgers anywhere.

 

[Fabnosh]

Never had that in the UK but did receive a sharp rebuke from a honey badger in Zim when I tried to move it on from a bait carcass. Glad I had a sturdy set of sticks! That said, I do think honey badgers are pretty awesome......just like them to be awesome from a bit further away though.

FN

 

[Milk no sugar please]

I was out lamping last year with a friend, just set the rifle on sticks and about to scan the field with the spotlight when we heard a strange noise to our immediate left in the hedge and it was getting closer. A whole bunch of crashing and scuffling later and out popped two badgers who were fighting - both were covered in blood and scratches. One ran straight toward my legs so I kicked out at it thinking it might attack in the confusion. I didn't manage to connect with it, it swerved just out of range and carried on off into the night with its fighting pal into some thick cover. I looked around to see my mate to say wtf and he was long gone, scarpered back down the track towards his truck

 

[Grannysmith]

We caught one in a long net about 45 years ago still have the scars to prove it!

 

[Swedish]

There are some badgers in an area of my stalk that are not afraid to make their presence known. Quite plucky little buggers!

 

[dartmoordog]

A friend of mine got chased by one once. He was screaming like a girl as this b&w devil chased him round the trees. I couldn't stop laughing.

Twenty years ago, it was, and I still won't let him forget it...

If the truth be know, Richard, DDS, screamed like a girl as well Carl!

 

[john_little]

There’s never an aggressive beaver about when I’m out in the woods, but I can dream.....

 

[WH308]

Years ago I was doing some ditching and a badger ran through the field of horses I was in. The horses came over to it and one old mare gave it a good kicking, breaking its back. As it crawled towards me dragging its back legs I decided to do the right thing and give it the coup de grace with the ditching spade I was using. I raised the spade over my head and brought it down with all I had, striking it square on top of the head. The impact made the spade ring like a bell and the shock made my hands go numb, the badger just looked at me as if to say “is that all ye got”. So I turned the spade through 90 degrees and tried again, didn’t go as well for him....

 

[B&W FOX]

I got charged by one whilst out lamping year's ago.
It didn't end well.
I couldn't believe how heavy the thing was.

 

[Eric the Red]

Mothers with young are prone to be pretty forthcoming and aggressive. It's the right time of year for them to be like that - probably young nearby.

 

[paulbshooting]

I told that if a badger bites it doesn't release until it feels bones snap. That was why his father would put stout sticks down his wellies in the old times when they could be controlled

 

[243varmint]

Years ago I had a similar experience. again in daylight, in the end, I shot it, this was pre-ban! it really had a go and wasn't going to back up. That was at Christow, possibly near you Richard.

243Varmint said he didn't think there were many down this way, Devon probably has/had one of the highest populations of badgers anywhere.

What I meant Old Keeper was with the cull that has been going on for the number of years that they were getting thinned out a bit.

 

[243varmint]

They are part of the Mustelid family which includes Wolverines too.
By nature they are strong and aggressive I think.