Badger Gates

[coppiceer]

Does anyone have experience of installing badger gates?

 

I have had rabbit fencing installed for about 8 years, but recently badgers have lifted up the fence in one or two places.

 

I am considering installing badger gates at these points but I would like some advice on whether the badgers will use the gates without any problems or will they try to burrow underneath them or even lift the fence up in another spot.

 

I have searched the site but can't find any previous posts.

[Lumberjack Pad]

Not had a vast amount to do with them, but from past experience, chances are if you put them up at those points, the stubborn beggers will push their way under the fence near the gates. Tended to then plug the holes with rocks large enough that they think twice about doing it again!

[Hogs Breath]

Badgers use them some of the time but rabbits use them all the time in my experience.

[big fell!]

Ive got about 70-80 of them in our deer fences around our xmas trees... Put up your fences as usual then wait 2 weeks and you can see where they have been pushing and scratching under them and thats then where you stick your gates. Dont cut the bottom wirer of the fence, make them step over it by placing some decent sized stones there. Wire them open for 2 weeks til they get used to using em.

Edited November 14, 2011 by big fell!
Typo

[Pete Tattam]

I used to be involved with a local badger group. We installed many badger gates to exclude them from setts that were on land to be developed. Badgers use established paths around their territory. Identify where those paths are ( a lot are clearly visible) and place your gates exactly on the path line. The badgers will use them, no problem. I would suggest contacting your local badger group, they would pleased to help.

[coppiceer]

Thanks very much for the really useful advice.

 

It is really rabbits comiing in that I am concerned about, but I wasn't sure how to "persuade" the badgers to use the gates: now I know.

 

I hadn't thought about the badger groups, I shall definitely contact my local group for their input.

 

Thanks again for the advice.