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The doings of badger pair Kadi and Tõnis in the badger den will remain a mystery until spring, but we will surely meet them from time to time  in the webcam at the nearby deer observation ground.

 

Four months of badger camera offered some excitement and even some new insights in the ethology of badgers.

 

The great hopes and expectations of seeing badger cubs playing and growing up in summer never materialized however. We saw how the female carefully scooped out old nest materials and soil and carried in fresh material, using mouth and forepaws and backing into the den. The tender and caring mutual flea-searching and the scratching of the own belly so that balance was nearly lost at times was somewhat comical.

 

A remarkable event took place on June 25th when the badger pair mated ”on camera”; see the video:

 

 A previously unseen and unheard-of aspect of the efforts of the badgers was the fact that the mating lasted continuously for 1 ½ hours. This documented event alone ought to bear fruit next spring.

 

We could determine that the known fact that badgers are twilight and nocturnal creatures belongs mostly to the self-established truths. In addition to dusk and night hours we could see our familiar badger pair in action in the morning, at noon and in early evening.

 

And the badgers are not alone around their home – in the ”village” others are busy as well. Deer seem to be the closest neighbours. Their lies could be seen some tens of meters away from the badger den.

 

Deer on the roof of the badger denl

 

Raccoon dogs have visited regularly to check whether the owners might have left their home. The idea that they might have a chance to move in themselves for winter may tick in the minds of the raccoons.

 

Video from the LK forum

[https://youtu.be/bllmV6JLpEw]

Wild boar were the most frequent visitors here; they do not always appear in camera view but their smacking has been audible even directly under the camera. Traces of the rooting of the boars are visible at the base of the den.

Vain creature from the local boar herd; from the LK forum

 

The path of the deer buck was just across the badger den, a couple of grass straws were snatched in passing and so the creature was gone.

 

From earlier we know that the pine marten is a ”local man” since we saw him depositing a large dropping on the deer ground before rushing away.

 

 

The trail of the elk has usually been on the other side of the badger den, but this time it was in front of the camera

 

Kadi and new nesting materials

 

Tõnis to the left and Kadi to the right