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Badger experience

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(@celtia)
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Joined: 20 years ago

Just had the most amazing experience.

Was walking home from my friend's house (on the outskirts of town) and at the end of her road, a badger crossed over the road in front of me and stopped a little way off, looking at me. I stopped too, not wanting to frighten him and then he took a couple of steps towards me....I took a couple of steps towards him... he took a step towards me.....this carried on until he was literally two or three feet away from me. I could have reached out and touched him! All the time we were looking at each other intently. He stared at me for about 10 seconds, then let out a breath (like a little "huff") and trotted off across the road.

Incredible. I felt so privileged.

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Posts: 1178
(@louisa_1611053138)
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Joined: 17 years ago

🙂 How lovely.

Thanks for sharing that.

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caveman
Posts: 2688
(@caveman)
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Joined: 19 years ago

wow that sounds magical!

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CarolineN
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(@carolinen)
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Joined: 16 years ago

Magic moment Celtia - always wonderful to connect like that with animals.

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clarice08
Posts: 214
(@clarice08)
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Joined: 16 years ago

Ahh thats cute! you should come visit my garden from may/june onwards, when we first moved in to our place we were told by the previous owner that fred and friends came for some supper every night, I never imagined how it would be! Absolutely fascinating experience, they come right upto the conservatory door for their supper, peanuts, scones and there fave, jam sandwiches! which they take from our hands, its such an honour to have them here, they even rattle the cat flap for more food! Have to see to believe! Unfortunately I think fred and friends may have passed on as last year we only young ones come visit, but it's nice to think that they are from the same family.

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clarice08
Posts: 214
(@clarice08)
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Joined: 16 years ago

Fred & Friends!

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Posts: 418
(@claire2327)
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Joined: 15 years ago

Awww so cute! 🙂
'Badger' is the nick name my family gives me (for some unclear reasons) so I'm particularly fond of them! 😉

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Posts: 1457
Topic starter
(@celtia)
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Joined: 20 years ago

Oh Clarice I love your pics!

When my parents were both alive, they lived in Dorset and had a badger set in their back garden too. Every evening they would come out on the lawn for their tea - and yes my mum used to put out peanut butter sandwiches for them...

I love badgers, but I know keen gardeners aren't too keen on them because they make a real mess of the lawn. They also dug up one of the cats that we had buried in the garden (after it had died I hasten to add!), so I know they aren't always so cute. But aren't they spectacularly gorgeous animals?

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clarice08
Posts: 214
(@clarice08)
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Joined: 16 years ago

Oh Clarice I love your pics!

They also dug up one of the cats that we had buried in the garden (after it had died I hasten to add!),

:speechless-smiley-0:eeeK::speechless-smiley-0 Thats gross!!! Poor kitty! Yes they can be messy,

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clarice08
Posts: 214
(@clarice08)
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Joined: 16 years ago

Thanks

The poor cat! thats gross! they do like digging for worms though. We've been quite lucky really, not too much damage and had loads of fun watching them. I Remember the first time our cats went outside to investigate them, thought I was going to have a heart attack! but they just accepted each other and now the cats just sit watching them and they've even sniffed one another a couple of times. One night fred & friend decided to have a massive fight on the door step, (well it was a Friday! lol) quite scary to watch, they make hellish noises too! Wish I'd taken more pics really.

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sunanda
Posts: 7639
(@sunanda)
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Joined: 21 years ago

So lucky Clarice. What a treat. I have never seen a badger in real life except for a few (actually an alarming number in recent years) that have been splatted on the road. I would love to have them in the back garden. At the moment I'm feeding a family of squirrels in the hope that they'll eventually become tame.

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Fadette
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(@fadette)
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Joined: 19 years ago

love squirrels! dont want to be the party popper and spoil everything but I once had a similar encounter with squirrels (ok, they re used to humans, cant compare) and was bathing in a magical light of saint fadette talking to animals until my friend pointed out that the bleeding squirrel does it regularly to get bread and cakes. cheeky bugger. no innocence left even in the squirrel society!

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clarice08
Posts: 214
(@clarice08)
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Joined: 16 years ago

Yes Sunanda, its very sad to see them at the side of the road. Since last year we no longer have fred & friends visiting, think maybe their time is up too, but we have the young ones coming now, can't quite figure out how they know where to come for their supper though! They never came with the adults neither and they come right up to the conservatory door, weird but clever little things! As for those pesky little squirrels, they come into our garden and rob whole bird feeders! it's hilarious to watch them hanging upside down. We bought a wire feeder thinking it would be squirrel proof and they still managed to gnaw a whole in it! We're blessed with the wildlife where we live, taught me alot since being here.

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(@arewenearly)
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Joined: 15 years ago

what an amazing story, the Badger whisperer lol 😀

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clarice08
Posts: 214
(@clarice08)
Estimable Member
Joined: 16 years ago

oooooh! I never thought of it like that lol, its my calling! :011:

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Posts: 1457
Topic starter
(@celtia)
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Joined: 20 years ago

Well I looked up the meaning of badger in my Animal Messages cards and it said:

"Throw trepidation and fear aside. Abandon compromise and the dissembling that leads to defeat. Take a firm, unwavering stand and speak your mind, regardless of others' opinions."

I think there are a few people who might say I do that already.....:(

"Fight valiantly, openly and agressively for what you believe in or risk losing it forever. Remember however that play is important too. As a cub it hones the badger's awesome skills, and as an adult it assures her continued prowess, as it will yours"

So there you are - a powerful animal guide!

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clarice08
Posts: 214
(@clarice08)
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Joined: 16 years ago

Update!

Hello guys, not been on for a while, hope everyone is ok.

Well, we now have 5 badgers! two adults and 3 young! it's so crazy, the first time they all came I thought I had an intruder outside as they made so much noise! when I looked out they were all scrapping over the food I'd put out, it's amazing but trying to get a pic was impossible! we get at least one every night. They cost me a fortune in jam butties and nuts lol but a pleasure to have around! Such a beautiful thing to see the new generations and knowing they can thrive where they live. Will try to get some pics, if I can get them to sit still..speak of the devil lol must go x x

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