Badger setts

While carrying out a review of the Operational Guidance for Incidents involving animals, it was recognised that the content relating to the legislative protection for badgers and their setts should:

1. Be updated and reinforced in the Incidents involving animals guidance
2. Also be included in the context guidance, Height, structures and confined spaces, in recognition that the incident may not involve an animal

Although the most common reason for needing to access a badger sett is to retrieve an entrapped dog, it is foreseeable that, for example, a person could fall into a badger sett and need to be rescued from a below ground structure.

This change request was recently approved by the Operational Preparedness, Response and Resilience Committee, and affects:

• Hazard – Below ground structures
• Control measure – Situational awareness: Below ground structures

There are two new strategic actions:

• Fire and rescue services must: Ensure all operational personnel are aware of the legislation that protects badgers and their setts
• Fire and rescue services should: Establish how to contact the relevant animal welfare charity or nature conservation body if advice or assistance is required for incidents involving badger setts