IT’S READY, get sett, go for the badger survey at Caerlaverock WWT.
South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth took the opportunity to catch up with Scottish Badgers’ staff and local volunteers at WWT Caerlaverock on Tuesday to learn more about the work the charity is currently undertaking and view some local badger setts.
The Labour MSP has been the Scottish Environment LINK Nature Champion for badgers in the Scottish Parliament for the past six years.
Representative from the charity Scottish Badgers were also present to promote its recently launched ‘Get Sett Scotland’ project that aims to estimate change in the density and distribution of badger main setts across a range of habitats in Scotland.
Over the course of 2022-2025, 500 trained volunteers will survey 1000 pre-selected 1-km squares across Scotland for badger setts, field signs and signs of human disturbance to setts.
Mr Smyth is also urging community members to get involved with the survey.
He said: “We all need to become nature champions if we’re to ensure that some of the amazing creatures and places that we love are still around for our children and grandchildren.
“This new project is very important and I would encourage people in Dumfries and Galloway to get involved with groups such as Scottish Badgers if you have an interest in our natural environment.”
Scottish Badgers chairman Eddie Palmer added: “Scottish Badgers was delighted to host this event at Caerlaverock and to have the presence of Colin Smyth MSP who works tirelessly in his role as nature champion for the badger.
“We are excited to begin this much needed research to provide an up-to-date estimate of the number of badger setts in Scotland. We would urge any budding citizen scientists to get in touch with us to get involved with the survey work in the south of Scotland over the next few years.”
