Badgers are drowning in the floods caused by Storm Dennis because – like humans – they’re reluctant to leave their homes, a wildlife expert has said.
The extreme wet weather has flooded many low-lying badger setts in North Wales and damaged the structures of those on high ground.
Wildlife expert Mal Ingham filmed a video showing one badger in the region being forced out into the open after its sett collapsed following a downpour.
A badger emerges into the open in North Wales after a deluge brought by Storm Dennis collapsed its sett. The confused badger peers around before walking over the sunken ground
In the footage, the confused-looking badger – which is soaking wet and covered in mud – is seen peering around.
It walks around the muddy scene before briefly disappearing from view and then reappearing.
Mr Ingham, former head ranger & wildlife officer for Wirral Council, said that, like humans, badgers are ‘very reluctant’ to leave their homes.
Mr Ingham, who has been monitoring local wildlife for over 30 years, added that the conditions will have a ‘tremendous impact’ on the animals.
‘Normally wet weather is good for badgers, it actually helps them find food,’ he said.
‘But this sort of weather where it’s torrential and constant, it drowns badgers even though they’re good swimmers.
‘If they’re trapped underground they will drown.
‘I hate to think how many setts have been completely flooded out.’
Mr Ingham has filmed multiple videos of local wildlife using his trail-cams in North Wales.
Another of his recent videos shows a badger sow moving her tiny four cubs to another burrow due to the weather.
The badger walks over the collapsed part of its sett before it peers back at the camera, which was set up by wildlife expert Mal Ingham
The cubs are heard screeching as the mother badger carries them.
Mr Ingham said that other wildlife such as foxes and otters may find it more difficult to find food, but will be less affected as they do not keep permanent homes.
Badger setts, however, often ‘stay in the family’ and can be up to 200 years old.
‘Setts can vary massively in size, even though a section may collapse, they can move into other parts, these badgers aren’t going to move,’ he said.
‘They are very reluctant to abandon their homes.’
He added that despite the weather he was optimistic about the animals’ situation.
Another of Mr Ingham’s recent videos shows a badger sow moving her tiny four cubs to another burrow due to the weather. The cubs are heard screeching as the mother badger carries them across the camera’s field of view
‘Badgers are survivors,’ he said.
‘Undoubtedly this sort of weather does have a very detrimental effect on them.
‘We will have lost a lot of animals but badgers will survive.’
The wet weather has prompted the worst floods in 200 years, forcing thousands of Britons to abandon their homes.
Officials are urging residents in South Wales, Yorkshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire to evacuate, warning the UK is ‘not out of the woods yet’.
Communities worst-hit by Storm Dennis over the weekend are braced for further misery tomorrow when two inches of rain will fall in 24 hours.
York, Sheffield and Leeds face up to another three inches of rain throughout Friday, which the Met Office said won’t relent until the early hours of Saturday.
The Prime Minister has resisted calls to chair a meeting of the Government’s emergency committee Cobra to tackle the flooding crisis, despite criticism from locals in the worst-affected areas (shown)
There are still 350 flood alerts in place nationwide – including six severe ‘danger to life’ warnings, with the latest affecting communities near the River Severn.
In Monmouth, South Wales, pensioners were carried out of their homes on inflatable stretchers, while in Ironbridge, Shropshire, a local wine bar is being used as a shelter.
The Prime Minister has so far resisted calls to arrange a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee and has no plans to visit any of the areas devastated by flooding.
He is believed to be staying at the Chevening Estate in Sevenoaks, Kent, with his partner Carrie Symonds while Parliament is in recess.