Author of photo: Kristiina Tohv
Posted by the Animal of the Year team, 09.11.2016
On April 4th this year when I was driving home on a beautiful afternoon, I noted a nice sunset, and since I always have my camera with me I decided to turn off from my home road and stop to photograph the sunset. As it happened, the sun had already dropped behind the forest when I found the right place for taking a photo. But I still did not return to the car but decided to take a little walk in the forest. It was past eight o’clock, dusk was falling, there was no wind in the forest, no noises. Then suddenly I noticed a large shape coming towards me along the forest path, nose turned down. It was a badger! When I recovered from the first shock I crouched down and took a photo. At that moment the badger saw me too. The distance between us was very small, but it had simply not noticed me. It stopped for a moment, inspected me from afar and then lumbered into the forest. This meeting was so special and wonderful.
From time to time I have walked in the same forest again, maybe I would succeed in meeting a badger again and I have tried to find tracks too but up to now without any luck. This particular encounter however made me read more about badgers and their way of life. Now I can also follow the doings of badgers on the home page of the Animal of the Year which is particularly nice.
Kristiina Tohv
