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{{short description|Badger's den}}
{{otheruses|Sett (disambiguation)}}
{{otheruses|Sett (disambiguation)}}
[[Image:SettEntrance.png|thumb|200px|The entrance to a sett]]
[[File:Badger hole - geograph.org.uk - 408620.jpg|thumb|The entrance to a sett]]


A badger '''sett''' or '''set''' is a [[European badger|badger]]'s den, usually consisting of a network of tunnels. The largest setts are spacious enough to accommodate 15 or more animals, with up to {{Convert|300|m|ft}} of tunnels and as many as 40 openings. It takes many years for the animals to dig these large setts.<ref name="bw">[http://www.badgers.org.uk/brocks-world/01fact1c.html Badgers.org.uk]</ref> Setts are typically excavated in soil that is well drained and easy to dig, such as sand, and situated on sloping ground where there is some cover.<ref>[http://www.fatbadgers.co.uk/badgers.htm Fat Badgers]</ref>
A '''sett''' or '''set''' is a [[badger|badger's]] den. It usually consists of a network of tunnels and numerous entrances. The largest setts are spacious enough to accommodate 15 or more animals with up to {{Convert|300|m|ft|sigfig=1}} of tunnels and as many as 40 openings. Such elaborate setts with extensive tunneling take many years for badgers to complete.<ref name="bw">[http://www.badgers.org.uk/brocks-world/01fact1c.html Badgers.org.uk] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041214143338/http://www.badgers.org.uk/brocks-world/01fact1c.html |date=2004-12-14 }}</ref> One sett in Southern England spreads over an estimated area in excess of 2,000 square metres – precise measurement has not been attempted. Another sett, in north-eastern Germany, has been shown to have been in use for over ten thousand years.<ref>[https://www.tagesspiegel.de/wissen/oekologie-rekonstruktion-seit-der-letzten-eiszeit-einbruch-in-der-vielleicht-aeltesten-noch-bewohnten-behausung-der-welt/27458342.html "Einbruch in der vielleicht ältesten noch bewohnten Behausung der Welt"], ''Tagesspiegel'', 27 July 2021. Accessed 17 February 2022.</ref> Setts are typically excavated in soil that is well drained and easy to dig, such as sand, and situated on sloping ground where there is some cover.<ref>[http://www.fatbadgers.co.uk/badgers.htm Fat Badgers]</ref>


Sett tunnels are usually between {{Convert|0.5|to|2|m|ft}} beneath the ground, and they incorporate larger chambers used for sleeping or rearing young. These chambers are lined with dry bedding material such as [[grass]], [[straw]], dead [[leaves]] or [[bracken]]. Tunnels are wider than they are high – about {{Convert|30|cm|in}} wide by {{Convert|25|cm|in}} high, matching the badger's wide and stocky build.
Sett tunnels are usually between {{Convert|0.5|and|2|m|ft|frac=2}} beneath the ground, and they incorporate larger chambers used for sleeping or rearing young. These chambers are lined with dry bedding material such as [[grass]], [[straw]], dead [[leaves]] or [[bracken]]. Tunnels are wider than they are high, typically around {{Convert|30|cm|in|0}} wide by {{Convert|25|cm|in|0}} high, which matches a badger's wide and stocky build.


[[File:Spoil heaps at Badger sett.jpg|thumb|A "spoil heap" outside a badger sett]]
The material excavated by the badgers forms large heaps on the slope below the sett. Amongst this material may be found old bedding material, stones with characteristic heavy scratch-marks, and sometimes even the bones of long-dead badgers cleared out by later generations. Most setts have several active entrances, several more which are used rarely, and some which have fallen into disuse.
The material excavated by the badgers forms large heaps on the slope below the sett. Among this material may be found old bedding material, stones with characteristic heavy scratch-marks, and sometimes even the bones of long-dead badgers cleared out by later generations. Most setts have several active entrances, several more that are used rarely, and some that have fallen into disuse.


Setts may not be excavated entirely in soil – sometimes they are made under the shelter of a shed, or in a heap of timber or rocks. They may also be excavated using a man-made structure as a roof, such as a [[concrete]] path, the foundations of a building, or the surface of a road – the excavations may sometimes cause subsidence of such a structure.
Setts are not always excavated entirely in soil. Sometimes they are under the shelter of a shed, or in a pile of timber or rocks. Badgers also excavate them under man-made structures like building foundations, concrete sidewalks, and paved roadways. This can lead to [[subsidence]], and other damage to such structures.


Badger colonies often use several setts – a large ''main sett'', usually in the central part of their [[Territory (animal)|territory]], used by most of the animals, and one, two or more smaller ''outlier setts''. Outlier setts may have only two or three entrances, and may be used by small numbers of animals when nearby food sources are in season, or in autumn when the main sett is crowded with the year's young.
Badger colonies often use several setts: a large main sett in the center of a colony's territory and occupied by most of a colony's members, and one or more smaller outlier setts. Outlier setts may have only two or three entrances and may be used by a small number of colony members when nearby food sources are in season or in autumn when the main sett is crowded with the year's young.


Badgers typically retreat to their setts at daybreak, and come out at dusk. In cold regions, setts are dug below the level at which the ground freezes, and all members of the clan sleep in the same chamber, possibly to share body heat.<ref>[http://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/european_badger.html#setts Wildlife Online]</ref>
Badgers typically retreat to their setts at daybreak and come out at dusk. In cold regions, setts are dug below the level at which the ground freezes, and all members of the clan sleep in the same chamber, possibly to share body heat.<ref>[http://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/european_badger.html#setts Wildlife Online]</ref>


Sometimes setts or parts of setts that are not being used by badgers are occupied by rabbits or foxes.<ref name="bw"/>
Sometimes setts or parts of setts that are not being used by badgers are occupied by [[Rabbit|rabbits]] or [[Fox|foxes]].<ref name="bw"/>


==Legal protections==
In the [[United States Of America]] badger setts are protected from disturbance or destruction under the [[Protection of Badgers Act 1992]].
In the [[United Kingdom]], badger setts are protected from disturbance or destruction under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.


==References==
==References==
{{wiktionary}}
<references/>
<references/>

== External links ==
* {{Wiktionary inline}}


[[Category:Badgers]]
[[Category:Badgers]]
[[Category:Shelters built or used by animals]]
[[Category:Shelters built or used by animals]]
[[sv:Gryt (jordhåla)]]
[[nl:Burcht (dierenverblijf)]]

Latest revision as of 19:19, 6 May 2023

For other uses, see Sett (disambiguation).
The entrance to a sett

A sett or set is a badger's den. It usually consists of a network of tunnels and numerous entrances. The largest setts are spacious enough to accommodate 15 or more animals with up to 300 metres (1,000 ft) of tunnels and as many as 40 openings. Such elaborate setts with extensive tunneling take many years for badgers to complete.[1] One sett in Southern England spreads over an estimated area in excess of 2,000 square metres – precise measurement has not been attempted. Another sett, in north-eastern Germany, has been shown to have been in use for over ten thousand years.[2] Setts are typically excavated in soil that is well drained and easy to dig, such as sand, and situated on sloping ground where there is some cover.[3]

Sett tunnels are usually between 0.5 and 2 metres (1+1⁄2 and 6+1⁄2 ft) beneath the ground, and they incorporate larger chambers used for sleeping or rearing young. These chambers are lined with dry bedding material such as grass, straw, dead leaves oder bracken. Tunnels are wider than they are high, typically around 30 centimetres (12 in) wide by 25 centimetres (10 in) high, which matches a badger's wide and stocky build.

A "spoil heap" outside a badger sett

The material excavated by the badgers forms large heaps on the slope below the sett. Among this material may be found old bedding material, stones with characteristic heavy scratch-marks, and sometimes even the bones of long-dead badgers cleared out by later generations. Most setts have several active entrances, several more that are used rarely, and some that have fallen into disuse.

Setts are not always excavated entirely in soil. Sometimes they are under the shelter of a shed, or in a pile of timber or rocks. Badgers also excavate them under man-made structures like building foundations, concrete sidewalks, and paved roadways. This can lead to subsidence, and other damage to such structures.

Badger colonies often use several setts: a large main sett in the center of a colony's territory and occupied by most of a colony's members, and one or more smaller outlier setts. Outlier setts may have only two or three entrances and may be used by a small number of colony members when nearby food sources are in season or in autumn when the main sett is crowded with the year's young.

Badgers typically retreat to their setts at daybreak and come out at dusk. In cold regions, setts are dug below the level at which the ground freezes, and all members of the clan sleep in the same chamber, possibly to share body heat.[4]

Sometimes setts or parts of setts that are not being used by badgers are occupied by rabbits or foxes.[1]

[edit]

In the United Kingdom, badger setts are protected from disturbance or destruction under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Badgers.org.uk Archived 2004-12-14 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Einbruch in der vielleicht ältesten noch bewohnten Behausung der Welt", Tagesspiegel, 27 July 2021. Accessed 17 February 2022.
  3. ^ Fat Badgers
  4. ^ Wildlife Online
[edit]
  • The dictionary definition of sett at Wiktionary
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