Legal protections for badgers
Legal protection for badgers was enshrined in law with the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. This made it illegal to capture, harm or kill a badger or disturb a badger sett. Part of the reason behind the law was the unfortunate persecution of badgers including badger-baiting, snaring, shooting and lamping. A further problem is sett blocking which may be carried out as part of illegal fox or so-called trail hunting.
Additional legal protection is also provided by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Hunting Act 2004. Badgers are also listed in Appendix III of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats.
The Badger Trust website provides further information on this.