Badger sett and match

Countryside Management students at Scotland’s Rural College are learning how to survey badgers as part of a new course being delivered at its West Lothian campus.

The Level 1 Badger Surveyor course, run by the charity Scottish Badgers, teaches students how to undertake surveys and interpret their findings.

A dozen students at SRUC Oatridge did a classroom lesson, before taking part in a fieldwork session on the campus, which is home to a number of monitored setts.

They will continue to undertake badger surveys at various places in different seasons to ensure they can correctly identify badgers in a variety of weathers and habitats.

The course, which was partially funded by a University Innovation Fund grant, will enable the students to become qualified surveyors for the British protected species.

Lecturer Chris Smillie, who is also doing the course, said: “Badgers have a long history of protection in this country. By producing qualified surveyors, SRUC will not only be helping students into their chosen career, but also providing aid to safeguard one of Britain’s most treasured wildlife species.”

It is the first time the course has been run at SRUC Oatridge, which is hoping to become the home of Scottish Badgers’ West Lothian branch.

Anyone wishing to become part of this branch can contact Scottish Badgers at: scottishbadgers.org.uk.

Visit Countryside Management to find out more.

Posted by SRUC on 09/03/2020