Watch This Feisty Badger Fend Off a Fox That Tries to Mooch Its Dinner

Competition for resources in the animal kingdom can be fierce! In this unique clip, we see two species battling it out in a backyard for some food left out by some kind humans. A larger badger has had his share of the food watched by a small female fox. Once he has left, she decides to polish off the rest but a second badger has very different ideas. A fierce fight breaks out which results in the vixen fleeing out of the garden. This confrontation does not go unnoticed by the family inside the house and their dog!

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Are Badgers Protected in the UK?

It looks as if this footage was captured in the UK where it is common for householders in some parts of the country to get both foxes and badgers in their yards. Badgers are easy to recognize from their black and white striped faces. They are found across the UK in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland but are not found on UK islands. Badgers like to live in grasslands, heathlands, moorlands, and woodlands. They are also found in orchards, gardens, and yards.

Badgers are protected in the UK under the Protection of Badgers Act of 1992, and the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981.

Do Badgers Attack Humans?

It’s quite obvious from this clip that badgers can be aggressive towards foxes but what about humans? Some UK wildlife organizations have issued advice to the public on how to stay safe around badgers.

In most circumstances, badgers will do their best to stay away from humans. Nevertheless, there are some circumstances where you may encounter one. They can get caught in snares. Where this happens, they should not be simply cut free and released. Call for help from a local wildlife group who can check that the badger is well enough to be released.

It is not uncommon for badgers to be injured in road collisions. These are most common during the spring and autumn when dusk occurs during peak traffic times. If you come across a badger that has been injured on the road and it seems alert do not approach it. Where the badger is in a dangerous location and could cause an accident, call the police. If not, call a local badger welfare group who will advise you on what to do. There have been instances where injured badgers have attacked humans who were trying to help them!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstock.com