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Give badgers space to thrive

Quick answer

If you find an injured badger, keep your distance and call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999 (Scottish SPCA: 03000 999 999). If someone is digging or blocking a sett, call 999. Badgers and their setts are protected by law, and you can help by giving them safe space, driving carefully at night and supporting a local badger group.

Need help now?

Injured or trapped badger

Keep back and call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999. What to do

Someone digging or blocking a sett

Call 999 if it's happening now, or 101 afterwards. Badger law

Dead badger on the road

Report it to your local council and the Badger Trust reporting centre. How to report it

Badgers in your garden

Usually harmless; make the garden safe for them. Garden guide

Understand the issues

Simple ways to help badgers

  • Drive carefully on country roads at dusk and at night. Roads are one of the biggest killers of badgers.
  • Keep dogs under control near woods and hedges.
  • Make your garden safe: sloped edges on ponds, covered drains, no loose netting.
  • Keep hedgerows and wild corners, which give badgers cover and safe routes.
  • Never share the location of an active sett.
  • Join or support your local badger group. Many need volunteers for surveys, rescue and road-crossing projects.

Get involved

Find your local badger group through Badger Trust, or follow Scottish Badgers, The Wildlife Trusts and the rescues listed in our footer.

Learn it in the Academy

Become a Badger Guardian: protection, law and how to help

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Related guides: How to watch badgers · What is a badger sett? · Contact us

Sources

Last reviewed October 2026 by Marcus and Ell, checked against the sources above. How we check our facts