Myth: badgers hibernate
Fact: They don't truly hibernate. In winter badgers become much less active and their body temperature may drop slightly, but they come out to forage whenever the weather is mild. (People's Trust for Endangered Species) More on badgers in winter
Myth: a badger seen in daylight must be ill
Fact: Not necessarily. Badgers are mostly nocturnal, but The Wildlife Trusts note they forage by day as well as at night when food is scarce, especially in dry summers. If a badger looks injured, wobbly or distressed, call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.
Myth: badgers only eat meat
Fact: Badgers are omnivores. Earthworms make up most of their diet, but they also eat insects, fruit, cereals, roots and bulbs, plus some small animals and eggs. What do badgers eat?
Myth: badgers are dangerous to people
Fact: Badgers avoid people and are no danger if left alone. Like any wild animal, a frightened or injured badger may bite, so never try to touch or pick one up.
Myth: badgers are why hedgehogs are disappearing
Fact: It's more complicated. Badgers do sometimes eat hedgehogs, especially when other food is scarce. But the Mammal Society lists the main threats to hedgehogs as habitat loss, pesticides, road deaths and garden hazards such as strimmers and bonfires.
Myth: a sett is just one hole
Fact: A main sett can have many entrances, with tunnels and chambers on several levels spreading over hundreds of square metres. Up to two dozen adults plus cubs can share one. What is a badger sett?
Myth: you can move badgers if they're in the way
Fact: Not without a licence. It's a crime to interfere with a sett or take a badger. Work that would affect a sett needs a licence from Natural England (in England) or Natural Resources Wales (in Wales), and only when there's no other option. Are badgers protected?
Myth: there are far too many badgers
Fact: Nobody knows the current number. The last estimate was about 485,000 in England and Wales, from surveys in 2011–14. More than 250,000 badgers have been culled in England since then, and a new national survey is due to report after the winter of 2026/27. How many badgers are there in the UK?