Inverness residents shocked by badgers roaming streets at night
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BADGERS have been spotted scurrying about the night-time streets in Inverness.
And indeed one Lochardil resident said one of the "brocks" came up his drive at such a lick, he turned tail and fled.
After several online social media reports about the nocturnal creatures being spotted, one woman sent the Inverness Courier a short clip of a badger caught in her security camera mounted outside her house in Laggan Road.
The woman, who did not wish to be identified said she and her husband were really surprised when the badger triggered the camera but at least it confirmed the reports of the black and white animals, or animal, being in the area.
She said that perhaps it was not surprising that a badger should wander into town as the area is not too far from both Culduthel Wood and Lochardil Wood, and it highlighted how close the area was to wildlife habitats.
The SSPCA said expanding urban areas are sometimes built on existing badger territories, which may mean that badgers have to find new territories and may enter gardens as they look for food, or find their home is now in secluded areas of gardens or recreational land.
The animal protection agency added: "The most humane and long-term solution to discourage badgers is to remove or prevent access to what attracts them, whether this is food or shelter, but bear in mind that badgers and their setts are protected by law.
"Sadly we see many badgers admitted to our wildlife centres with injuries due to traffic collisions, especially in early spring.
"Make sure you take extra care of badgers on the road, particularly at night. Keep your speed low and be aware that another badger may be following one that has already crossed the road.
Foxes have become quite a common urban sight in some towns and cities but not so much in Inverness.
