The arched main gate. The highest burrow entrance of the beautiful Soomaa sett goes in between the collapsed walls of the old earth cellar.
The leader of the hunters, Tõnis Korts, showed the fairytale Soomaa badger sett. An arched entrance and 15 burrow openings, magnificent as a country mansion. We marvelled at how the badgers have managed to construct such a powerful fortress here on the low watery ground –in Soomaa where in addition to the fifth season sometimes also a “sixth season” surprises with high waters. As happened this year in mid-August when roads and courtyards, up to the thresholds, swam in water. “Soomaa is not any place whichever for badgers,” Tõnis Korts explained.” When it turns wet at the wrong time the cold can kill the badger.” But badgers have found the few places suitable for building in Soomaa. “They are the highest places around here”, Tõnis Korts assures. It shows too – all around high humidity reigns, the badger sett however is dry. “The best places in Soomaa man has seen too and on most of them built farmsteads. With the building of farms badgers were driven out. Now when people have gone the badger gets the places back,” Tõnis Korts comments. Maybe at times badgers make trouble too and build their burrows in buildings still in use – then it is not quite as entertaining. Here in the old earth cellar however nobody disturbs the badger. Together we counted 15 active burrow entrances. Which shows that the sett should be protected by law – 10 are enough to achieve this status.
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