Badger Sett Closures: Timing, the Closed Season & Process

Badger sett closures are licensed under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and can only be carried out outside the breeding closed season — closures are permitted from approximately 1 July to 30 November, with the closed season running from around 1 December to 30 June. You need a Natural England licence first, and the work uses humane exclusion methods over a minimum 21-day period.

That is the short answer. Below we explain why the timing matters, how the process works step by step, and what affects the cost and schedule — whether you are a homeowner with a sett near your house or a developer planning a site.

Why badger setts are legally protected

Badgers and their setts are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. It is an offence to:

• kill, injure or take a badger;
• damage, destroy or obstruct access to a sett; or
• disturb a badger while it is occupying a sett.

Penalties can include an unlimited fine and up to six months imprisonment. Because of this, any interference with an active sett — including closure, exclusion or relocation — requires a Natural England licence. You cannot simply block the entrances yourself, even if a sett is causing problems on your land.

Crown & Burrow is a Natural England-licensed badger ecology firm based in Guildford, Surrey. We handle the surveys, licensing and licensed works so the process stays fully lawful from start to finish.

The breeding closed season and why timing is everything

The single most important factor in a sett closure is the calendar. The closed season exists to protect dependent badger cubs, which are typically born underground in the early part of the year and remain in the sett for several months.

• Closed season (no closures): approximately 1 December to 30 June
• Closures permitted: approximately 1 July to 30 November

Licensed sett-closure and exclusion work is restricted to the period outside the closed season. This window matters enormously for project planning: if a survey identifies an active sett in spring, closure work may not be possible until July at the earliest. Developers in particular should build this seasonal constraint into programme timelines early to avoid costly delays.

The sett closure process step by step

1. Survey and sett assessment

Every project starts with a survey to confirm the status and activity of any setts on site. Surveyors look for field signs (spoil heaps, latrines, well-worn paths, bedding, hair), and may use bait-marking to map territories and camera monitoring to confirm whether a sett is currently in use. This evidence underpins the licence application — you can read more about our badger surveys and what each phase involves.

2. Mitigation planning and licensing

The survey findings feed into a mitigation strategy and a Natural England licence application. The plan sets out the closure method, timing within the open season, and any compensatory measures such as an artificial sett. Our badger mitigation plans are designed to satisfy the licensing tests and keep schemes moving.

3. Humane exclusion (minimum 21 days)

Licensed closures use humane, non-lethal methods. The standard approach is:

• fitting one-way gates to sett entrances so badgers can leave but not return;
• reinforcing entrances with stainless-steel mesh;
• maintaining the exclusion for a minimum of 21 days to ensure all badgers have vacated; and
• using exclusion fencing where needed to keep the area clear.

Only once the sett is confirmed empty can entrances be permanently and safely closed.

4. Alternative and artificial setts

Where a closure removes a badger group’s home, a licence may require an artificial or alternative sett to be provided nearby — purpose-built chambers and tunnels that give the badgers somewhere suitable to move to. This is common on development sites and is planned in advance so it is established before exclusion begins.

What affects the cost and timeline

We quote per project rather than from a price list, because no two sites are the same. The main factors are:

• Site size and access — a single garden sett differs greatly from a multi-hectare development.
• Sett type and number — main setts, outliers and the count of entrances all add complexity.
• Survey phase required — field-sign checks, bait-marking and camera monitoring vary in scope.
• Seasonal constraints — work confined to the open season can push timelines back.
• Licence requirements — including any artificial sett provision and post-works monitoring.

Because the closed season can delay works by months, getting a survey done early is the best way to keep both cost and programme under control.

Reassurance for homeowners and developers

Sett closures sound daunting, but with the right ecologist they are routine and fully lawful. Humane exclusion protects the badgers, the licence protects you, and good planning keeps disruption to a minimum. As a licensed sett closure provider, Crown & Burrow manages the entire process — survey, licence, exclusion and alternative-sett provision — so you stay on the right side of the law and on schedule.

If you have a sett on your property or development site, the first step is always a survey to confirm its status and activity. Book a badger survey with our team on 01483 387478 or email badgers@crownandburrow.co.uk to discuss your project.