Natural habitats for native mammals are disappearing fast throughout the UK, some mammals are becoming rare, vulnerable or even extinct.

This is where you can do your bit to help them. It doesn’t matter what size of garden you have, it’s what you do with it.

Wildlife in your garden will not move into your home if they have shelter or food. If they have suitable habitats of their own they will happily stay away but provide you with little moments of joy.

Most animals are transitional and will spend little time in your garden. Badgers are one of these visitors and yes they can be found in an urban setting allowing for human/animal interaction.

They will be especially attracted to untreated short grass lawns providing juicy worms, grubs and beetles although their diet can include amphibians, carrion and even fruit. Did you know there are nine species of badgers in the world and all members of the weasel (mustelid) family? The UK badger is a secretive yet social animal living in families called clans.

They use the same homes called setts for generations and use the same paths to their foraging sites. They are exceptionally strong and have a crested skull allowing them to dig into heavy ground and move large stones with great ease. Their homes are dug below the ground level that freezes and all clan members may sleep together for warmth, yes they even snore!

Badgers do not hibernate they go into a torpor state allowing their bodies to lower heart rate breathing rate and temperature using their fat reserves accumulated during summer months during harsh conditions they will awaken to forage on mild days. A male is called a boar and the female a sow with young called cubs.

Badgers and their homes are heavily protected by law so they must not be injured, removed, killed or their setts interfered with. If you do find an injured animal, do not touch it and if you don’t want them near your house then you must contact your local badger group, Scottish Badgers or www.scottishbadgers.org.uk.

Some animals are nocturnal which means they are particularly active at night however, some may venture out in daylight because they are ill or injured. First and foremost is your safety so never try to pick an animal up. If they are young don’t touch them otherwise you’ll leave your scent and they will be abandoned. Make sure that it can come to no harm and as wildlife is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) it’s important that you contact any of the following organisations for advice and assistance including the Countryside Ranger Service, Pollok Country Park 0141 276 0924, Hessilhead Wildlife Centre 01505 502415, SSPCA 03000 999 999 and Scottish Natural Heritage 0141 951 4488.

Jackie Clark