The term “badger hole” refers to a badger’s burrow complex, which biologists refer to as a sett, most commonly constructed by the Eurasian Badger (Meles meles). This subterranean structure is an extensive, multi-generational dwelling that provides shelter, a nursery, and a refuge for the entire badger clan. The physical dimensions and architectural plan of a sett reflect the badger’s stocky build and social structure, resulting in a unique underground home. This article details the specific measurements and features that define a badger sett, moving from the surface entrance to the scale of the entire underground system.
Dimensions of the Entrance
The entrance of a badger sett is a recognizable feature, designed to accommodate the animal’s broad body shape. The tunnels are typically wider than they are tall, resulting in an entrance that is often a sideways oval or a flattened D-shape with the flat side on the ground. The average diameter of an active badger tunnel is consistently around 30 centimeters (about 12 inches). This characteristic profile, measuring approximately 25 to 30 centimeters wide and 20 to 25 centimeters high, is a key visual identifier.
A more telling sign of an active badger sett is the presence of a large spoil heap immediately outside the entrance, which speaks to the sheer amount of soil badgers excavate. These heaps of displaced dirt, often referred to as middens, are significantly larger than those associated with other burrowing mammals. Badgers are meticulous about hygiene and drag old bedding material—such as dried grass, straw, and leaves—out of the sett, leaving it visible near the entrance.
Internal Architecture and Depth
Once inside the entrance, the sett transitions into a complex network of tunnels and chambers specifically sized for the badger. The tunnels maintain dimensions suited to the badger’s short, wide build. This tunnel system is rarely near the surface; most tunnels descend to a depth between 0.5 and 2 meters, though the main chambers can be located up to 3 meters below ground in colder climates.
The tunnels connect to larger sleeping or nesting chambers, which are lined with dry bedding material that badgers regularly collect and replace. These chambers are notably wider than the connecting tunnels to allow the animals space to rest and raise their young. Although badgers generally deposit their waste in external dung pits called latrines, some discrete corners within the complex may contain waste.
Scale of the Sett Complex
The true scale of a badger’s home is not just its depth, but the immense horizontal network it forms over time. Badger clans maintain a territory that includes multiple burrows, categorized by their use and size: the main sett, annex setts, subsidiary setts, and outlier setts. The main sett is the largest and most permanently occupied, serving as the breeding location, and can feature five or more entrances.
Established main setts are the result of generations of excavation and maintenance, often containing hundreds of meters of tunnels and dozens of entrances. Some of the largest recorded complexes have over 40 openings and up to 300 meters of tunnels, covering an area well over 2,000 square meters. The clan continuously expands and modifies the structure, sometimes moving an estimated 25 tonnes of soil over the years.
Distinguishing Sett Sizes from Other Burrows
The combination of size, shape, and surrounding evidence allows a badger sett to be reliably distinguished from the burrows of other animals, primarily the fox and the rabbit. Badger sett entrances are uniquely wider than they are tall, contrasting with the tunnels of foxes, which tend to be more upright and oval, or rabbits, which are generally rounder. The minimum diameter of a badger tunnel is about 25 centimeters, while a rabbit burrow, even if initially large, quickly narrows to about 15 centimeters.
The size of the spoil heap is the most definitive feature of a badger sett’s scale, as badgers displace massive amounts of soil, creating a large mound of loose earth. Fox dens, while often similar in size to a smaller badger entrance, typically lack this substantial spoil heap. While foxes may occasionally use a badger sett, they are more likely to leave scattered prey remains near their den, a feature badgers rarely exhibit.