Classic BadgerRaiding Sign.

[JonathanD]

Found this wasps nest that had been raided by a badger last night. Amazing to see how deep it went into the ground and half of it was still intact and buried with a huge amount of activity. They didn't take kindly to me mesmorised by their activity and nest destruction. Got really annoyed when I poked my camera in, so only gt a few shots and a stung ear for my troubles. Hate to think what the badger got for his.

 

[Retired Member southey]

Brilliant pics dude, You really have to admire the tenacity of badgers. ace beasts.

 

[HHazeldean]

Nice pics, very interesting behaviour, I wouldn't have thought that badgers would be interested in wasps.

Thanks for sharing...

 

[JonathanD]

Nice pics, very interesting behaviour, I wouldn't have thought that badgers would be interested in wasps.

Thanks for sharing...

After the grubs. It's hilarious to see them do it. When they get too overwhelmed by the wasps, they run off and cover their heads with their front feet, just like a comedy cartoon.

 

[shaggystu]

i spotted some very similar sign to this yesterday whilst walking the hound, he got his nose stung, i lost my balance and slipped down a grassy bank into a lovely patch of marsh due to laughing at his reaction to being stung. most entertaining! i could just imagine brock sitting in his sett listening to us making our racket and thinking "what a pair of pillocks, dominant species my ****, can't even hunt a wasp without making a complete tit of himself"

stuart

 

[JonathanD]

i spotted some very similar sign to this yesterday whilst walking the hound, he got his nose stung, i lost my balance and slipped down a grassy bank into a lovely patch of marsh due to laughing at his reaction to being stung. most entertaining! i could just imagine brock sitting in his sett listening to us making our racket and thinking "what a pair of pillocks, dominant species my ****, can't even hunt a wasp without making a complete tit of himself"

stuart

Brilliant. My exiting of the area was equally as embarrassing. Good job no-one was watching.

 

[HHazeldean]

JD, did you actually watch the badgers doing the deed?

 

[JonathanD]

JD, did you actually watch the badgers doing the deed?

I didn't in this case, but I was lucky to see it happen a couple of years ago. It really was hilarious, badgers are just daft.

 

[_scorpio_]

that makes no sense, a paper nest underground....? i thought they were only in trees (and lofts/garages lol) where its dry enough for them to stay solid?

 

[JonathanD]

that makes no sense, a paper nest underground....? i thought they were only in trees (and lofts/garages lol) where its dry enough for them to stay solid?

Nope, along with hornets, it is quite common to have them underground. Whatever saliva they mix the wood paste with, makes them extremely water resistant. The exposed ones in trees get dashed with heavy rain and it just bounces off. It's the excavating that intrigues me. They fly the excess earth out, bit by bit. Incredible creatures. Pity they are so misunderstood. Well, except the bugger that got my ear. I'll be looking for that swine later.

 

[Retired Member southey]

Lucky your fly was done up!

 

[JonathanD]

Lucky your fly was done up!

Don't need one. Just roll my left trouser leg up a few inches.

 

[Bushwhacker]

Good stuff.
They're too thick-skinned and bloody minded to pass up a protein packed meal of grubs like that.
Now slap dem dere pics up on the badger sign thread as they're a lot clearer than the fuzzy snap I put up. http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=75168

that makes no sense, a paper nest underground....? i thought they were only in trees (and lofts/garages lol) where its dry enough for them to stay solid?

You'll also notice that it's right next to a pond too. The amount of times I've laid my fishing tackle on top of a nest entrance at the waters edge is unreal.

 

[comeonbabylightmyfire]

Until now I've never come across anyone who could put up a defence for wasps. I thought they were universally loathed. Full bifters to you for getting that close.

 

[warthog1981]

I was lucky enough to find a wasp nest that had been recently raided to
which is even better because I didn't think there were any Badgers around here.

Cheers Russ

 

[Paganwolf]

found one of these yesterday, must be a good time for grubs!

 

[21st century pict]

Must be a common thing for Badgers, one day last week I found one Wasp and one Bees nest raided in under a mile..Bees
..Wasp
I’d love to watch that exit strategy .

 

[JonathanD]

I've found another three this week.

 

[Paganwolf]

Just found a bumble bee nest scavenged too