Despite progress in the legal protection of the species, badgers are up against numerous challenges to their survival, including government-sanctioned culls, road traffic accidents, wildlife crimes, developments, and habitat loss.

Badger Trust advocates for the welfare, conservation and protection of badgers, along with their habitats and setts, envisioning a world where badgers are revered as integral to our rich wildlife heritage and safeguarded from persecution. With a large network of local voluntary badger groups and the support of thousands of followers, Badger Trust is the leading voice for badgers in England and Wales, providing expert advice on all badger-related issues and engaging with stakeholders at the local and national level.

Over the past decade, approximately 230,000 badgers have been culled in Britain, with population estimates before the cull standing at around 500,000. However, the exact number of badgers in Britain remains unknown, making it unclear how these culls, along with other threats to badgers, affect the population health of this iconic British mammal.

Badger Trust’s first State of the Badger survey and report, planned for launch in 2025, aims to assess current population trends for badgers in England and Wales. The survey will be repeated every five to ten years to monitor changes in badger populations over time. These findings will be fundamental to the conservation and future of badgers in Britain. NatureSpy are thrilled to support Badger Trust as they embark on this ambitious survey.

National badger surveys haven’t been conducted before in England and Wales, so there’s a need to trial and refine the monitoring techniques and approaches for this ambitious project. In 2022, Badger Trust secured funding from the John Spedan Lewis Foundation for a pilot study to test the survey methods intended for the full-scale State of the Badger survey.

Trail cameras will play a key role in this citizen science project, allowing volunteers to monitor badger setts and gather footage that will help to reveal badger population levels.

NatureSpy has initially supplied Badger Trust with trail camera equipment to aid their State of the Badger Pilot study. We will offer technical guidance on camera trapping and optimising the capabilities of this equipment.

Clear footage is a high priority, but the cameras must also be reliable, robust and easy to use for volunteers, so we’ve donated Ursus Trail Cameras and loaned Browning Recon Force trail cameras. With this equipment, Badger Trust volunteers can monitor activity at badger setts, capturing footage and testing methods for the national State of the Badger survey.