Badger "played badger"

My badger story started some years ago when I found a badger burrow. I promised myself that I would have a photo of the badger. To start with, I brought a trail camera to the burrow, to get an idea of the life rhythm of the badger – at what time it comes out of the sett and from which burrow. From time to time I then went there to switch the memory card and batteries of the camera. There were of course many badger images, and to start with it seemed to me that I knew at which time and from which burrow the badgers would come out but usually when I arrived there the badger did not come at the ”agreed time”. Then I thought that maybe the badger was not at home or felt the smell etc. But as time went by I grew steadily more convinced that the badger simply ”played badger”*. On studying the times in the trail camera it became evident to me that there was no system and that the badger did not know itself when it would go out. For photographing badgers you simply need luck. Yes, a badger moves more often about in dusk, but it might perfectly well come out at midday to play with the cubs. I have gone to see the badger tens of times and on some occasions we have met, I have made some photos. So obviously I have been lucky.

Kalmer Lehepuu

_{NB. "Mäkra mängima" - playing badger - being shifty, not reliable}

Sildid