Badgers coming to a back garden near you

Badgers are starting to pop up in British gardens, which is surprising given that they are normally reclusive nocturnal creatures.

A survey of UK homeowners reports that one in ten householders have seen badgers in their gardens noting the popular black and white face popping out in search of food.

The survey was organized by RSPB and expected to find that foxes, hedgehogs, and robins would be the main wildlife found in backyards, but apparently badgers are making a run for the title.

The badger is hard to mistake, given its size averages anywhere between 13 to 31 inches and it is a childhood favourite of many people.

Chairman of the Badger Trust, Dave Williams, stated that while it may be surprising to see them in the garden, they are probably looking for the seeds and nuts that are commonly left out for birds by residents.

The badger typically feeds on insects, small mammals, worms, rodents, frogs, roots, and fruit.

Additionally, Williams stated that they have a great sense of smell and are partial to peanuts, which may be one of the reasons they have started to venture out of the woods and into rural residential areas.

The survey was initially launched to get a rough idea of how many birds are sighted in communities due to the fact some of the most popular species such as the robin, song thrushes, and blackbirds have been decreasing in numbers.

RSPB members hope this will help emphasis the importance of wildlife in the backyard and help make people more aware of their surroundings, which are often taken for granted.

Badgers on the other hand, have doubled in population since they earned legal protection from hunters and others in 1991 totalling about 400,000 across the UK.