Too many holes! Why badgers are digging up Britain’s lovingly maintained golf courses
Summary
In the UK, a severe drought has dried up most soil, making it hard for badgers to find food underground. As a result, badgers are digging up the wet grass on golf courses, which are allowed to water their lawns during the drought, causing damage and concern among golf course managers.Key Facts
- European badgers live 5 to 8 years in the wild and have lived in the UK for hundreds of thousands of years.
- The UK had its driest July since records began in 1836, causing dry, hard soil and wildfires.
- Most wild plants and insects badgers eat live underground, which is hard to reach in dry soil.
- Golf courses are exempt from drought hosepipe bans, so they keep their grass green and wet.
- Badgers dig up golf course turf to find food like worms and chafer grubs.
- Golf courses across various UK regions, including Suffolk and Worcestershire, report damage from badgers.
- The damage has upset golf course managers, who want changes to watering rules.
- Changing the law could remove golf courses’ water exemption, but that may harm the badgers’ food supply.
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