Why are earthworms so important to badgers?
Earthworms are plentiful, easy to catch and rich in energy. Across much of the badger's range, studies put earthworms at roughly half of its diet, and the Woodland Trust gives a figure of about 80% for British badgers. The Wildlife Trusts say a badger can eat several hundred in a single night. Worms come to the surface on mild, damp nights, so those are a badger's best feeding nights. Short grassland such as pasture and lawns is a favourite hunting ground.
What else do badgers eat?
Badgers are opportunists and eat whatever the season offers:
- Insects and grubs: beetles and other large insects, grubs and slugs
- Nests: wasps' and bees' nests, dug out for the grubs, honey and comb
- Fruit and plants: apples, pears, plums, blackberries and elderberries, cereals, roots and bulbs
- Animals: small mammals such as voles, young rabbits and hedgehogs, birds' eggs, and occasionally carrion
Does a badger's diet change through the year?
Yes. In spring and on wet nights, worms dominate. In a dry summer, worms move deep into the soil, so badgers turn to beetles, grubs and early fruit, and summer droughts can be a hungry time. In autumn, fallen fruit, nuts and cereals help them build fat for winter. In spring badgers can weigh 8–9 kg, rising to 11–12 kg by autumn.
How do badgers find their food?
By smell. A badger's nose is far better than its eyesight. It snuffles across the ground at night and digs small cone-shaped snuffle holes where it detects a worm or grub. Rolled-back turf on a lawn usually means a badger has been digging for grubs underneath.
Do badgers eat hedgehogs?
Sometimes. The Mammal Society notes that badgers eat small mammals, including hedgehogs, when other food is scarce. Badgers are one of the few animals strong enough to unroll a hedgehog, so hedgehogs tend to avoid areas with many badgers.
Should I feed badgers in my garden?
It's best not to make badgers depend on you. Scottish Badgers suggests that, if you want to watch them, a handful of peanuts or soft pet food per badger is a welcome snack, but it may keep them foraging in your garden for longer. Never feed by hand, and never leave food at a sett.