Diet of worms

Not THE Diet of Worms in 1521 at which Martin Luther was branded a heretic, but evidence of our local badgers' nocturnal dining. 

This is our Big Field (as opposed to our Little Field) with its many patches of grass clawed up by badgers as they search for the earthworms which comprise 80% of their diet.

The badgers live under the field boundary at the top, where the roots of trees and bushes laced together along a stony earthbank harbour a warren of burrows. 

"In short grass, worms can be seen in huge numbers; and the badgers can swarm across the grassland simply "hoovering" them up in an obsessive frenzy. In a single night, perhaps as many as 200 worms can be eaten by each badger. On the face of things worms are easy to catch - especially in grass which has been cropped short by grazing cows or sheep (or a lawnmower in your garden), but the worms do have one trick up their sleeve. Worms are sensitive to vibration, and will rush to return down their burrows if they sense heavy rain or heavy footsteps. In trying to make an escape, they might get half way down their burrow, before the badger decides to suck them up. In trying to get the whole worm, the badger can end up making round or oval-shaped snuffle-holes with its snout."
http://www.badgerland.co.uk/animals/food/earthworms.html



Although badgers don't hibernate they aim to bulk up in preparation for the winter weather when they will be less active,  hunkering down and living off their fat to keep warm. As will most of us.