Badger cub progress

After watching quite a lot of videos from around the sett I think the clan comprises eight or so individuals with one breeding female and a dominant boar.  The two cubs are the only new arrivals this year.  Marc Baldwin's excellent website, Wildlife Online, says that other clan members take no part in raising the cubs, which fits in with what I have seen.  In fact until recently they have seemed reluctant to interact with the cubs, perhaps fearing the mother's reaction if they got too close (or perhaps having their tails pulled by the naughty cub).  Things have changed a bit recently and the cubs are becoming more integrated with the group.  On a dry warm evening most of the badgers sit near the sett entrance for a bit of social time before going their separate ways for the night's foraging and the cubs are now joining in.

The cubs still spend most of their time trailing round after their mother.  On a couple of occasions recently I have seen the mother snap at them for no obvious reason (was it something they said?).

The first time was at midday when this happened.

Three days later, at the same spot and almost the same time of day there was a very similar episode.

There seemed to be no hard feelings but from a human point of view it looks a bit harsh.  I am sure from the badgers' viewpoint it is just how things are.  Perhaps she is instilling a bit of discipline or reminding them of their place in the world.

It has been interesting how often the mother and cubs appear on the videos compared with the other clan members.  I think the reason is that mother hasn't gone far from the sett while the cubs have been small whereas other badgers are mostly seen only when they leave and return.  I expect that will change as mother takes the cubs farther afield.  The recent rain will also have been a relief for them, making earthworms easier to find.  The sett is quite a long way from any human activity and it has been striking how much they are out in the middle of the day when undisturbed.