European badger

Badger watching is a lesson in patience that pays off on a long summer evening. Badgers live in family groups in underground setts, and a sett in use is usually neat, with clean doorways. Be in position at least an hour before dusk, downwind so the breeze carries your scent away from the holes, in dark clothing that will not rustle; even a waterproof jacket can give you away. Use only a dim light covered in red, and switch it on sparingly. Summer emergence times can be unpredictable, so bring a thermos and expect to wait. If you do not know a sett, joining a local badger group is one way to find one, and the first striped face appearing at an entrance repays every minute of stillness.