10.
The burrow of a nocturnal wanderer
At nightfall
the badger will leave its burrow. Wandering through woodlands, fields and meadows
it sometimes covers quite a long distance. The badger is an omnivore,
eating berries and worms alike. A badgers’ burrow can be inhabited for
centuries. Sometimes a badger is seen near or in this garden, robbing bumble-bee
nests and eating corn ears.
Though this mammal has no natural enemy here, except human beings, the number
of badgers has decreased steadily since the middle of the 20th century. Traffic
and modern agriculture cause the death of many a badger.
The
badger is a very useful animal. It’s very clean,
likes bathing and basking in the sun. The badgers’ burrow
does not smell – like the foxes’ – that
is why badgers do not like it when a fox takes over a
part of his burrow – which happens quite often
Since 1947 the animal is legally protected in the Netherlands.
Their numbers have increased since then, but do not increase
anymore.
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