How to Stop Badgers Digging Under Your Fence

A badger that has used the same route for years will not stop because you put up a fence. It will dig under it.

The fix is either a physical barrier that goes deeper than the badger digs, or a scent barrier that makes the route feel unsafe. Both work. They just take different amounts of effort.

What the law says

This matters before you start digging, because getting it wrong is a criminal offence.

The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 makes it an offence to kill, injure or take a badger. It also protects their homes. You cannot damage, destroy or block access to a sett without a licence.

There is an important distinction between a sett and a run.

• A sett is a structure used for shelter or breeding. Blocking an entrance is illegal.
• A run is a worn path through the landscape. You are generally allowed to secure your own boundary along one.

Look for fresh bedding, such as dry grass or straw, and a large spoil heap of excavated soil. Those point to a sett. A run has neither.

If you are unsure, get advice before you touch it. Licences are issued by Natural England in England, and by the equivalent body in Wales and Scotland.

Why badgers target the fence line

Badgers are creatures of habit. They follow the same route for generations, and a new fence across it is treated as an obstacle rather than a reason to change direction.

A flattened trail of grass leading up to the boundary is a badger run. That is where they will dig.

Most of the digging on the other side is a search for food. Earthworms make up a large part of a badger's diet, along with chafer grubs and leatherjackets.

Three things to look for:

• Snuffle holes. Small, cone-shaped pits where the badger has pushed its snout into soft ground after worms or grubs.
• Latrines. Shallow pits used as communal toilets, usually near the boundary, marking territory.
• Worn paths. A clear trail leading directly to the point where the fence meets the ground.

If the lawn itself is the problem rather than the boundary, see our guide on how to stop badgers digging up your lawn.

How to block the gap with mesh

This is the permanent fix, and it works. It is also a real job.

Use 12-gauge galvanised wire mesh. Badgers are strong enough to tear through chicken wire or anything lighter.

1. Dig the trench

Dig roughly 30cm deep along the fence line, following the run.

2. Bend an L-shaped footer

Do not just bury the mesh straight down. Bend the bottom 15cm outwards, away from your garden, so it lies horizontally under the soil.

When the badger digs at the fence base, it ends up standing on the same mesh it is trying to get through.

3. Fix the top properly

Secure the mesh to the fence panels with heavy-duty staples or wire ties. A badger that cannot dig under will try to lift.

4. Cover it up

Gravel or bark chippings over the exposed mesh keeps the boundary tidy, and the loose surface is unpleasant to dig through.

Be aware that trenching along a boundary disturbs established plant roots, and it is heavy work over any distance.

A simple way to help keep badgers away

If digging a trench is more than you want to take on, a scent barrier does a similar job with far less effort.

Revira is a natural, non-toxic deterrent designed to help keep badgers, mice and voles away from gardens and boundaries.

It works on scent. Applied along the run, it helps make the route feel less safe, so the badger is more likely to go round.

Revira is:

• non-toxic
• safe for children and pets
• harmless to wildlife

The granules are clay-based, so the scent is released slowly rather than washing off in the first shower. That is the main practical difference from sprays and DIY mixtures.

See the mice, rodent and badger deterrent.

Where to apply it

Precision matters more than quantity.

Apply along the specific run where the badger crosses the boundary, not scattered across the lawn. You are building a line at the point of conflict, not covering an area.

Reapply every three to six months, and after prolonged heavy rain.

Expect it to take a couple of weeks. You are breaking a route the animal has used for a long time, so it will test the boundary a few times before giving up on it.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to block a badger hole under my fence?

Yes, if it is a run into your property rather than a sett entrance. Blocking a sett is a criminal offence under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

Check for fresh bedding and a large mound of excavated soil before you start. Both point to a sett.

How deep do I need to bury a fence to stop badgers?

At least 30cm, with the bottom 15cm bent outwards into an L-shape. The horizontal section is what does the work: the badger stands on the barrier it is trying to dig through.

What smell deters badgers?

DIY scents such as chilli or citronella move a badger on briefly, but they wash away with the first rain. A clay-based granule holds the scent for far longer, which is what breaks the habit.

Will badgers give up if I keep blocking their path?

Usually, but not immediately. They are persistent and will try to reopen a blocked route for several nights.

Faced with a barrier that stays put, they take the easier route instead. Two weeks of consistency is a reasonable expectation.

Do I need to do both the mesh and the granules?

No. Either works on its own. Together they work faster, since the scent discourages the badger from approaching the fence in the first place.

Written by: Per Arne Reiersrud, CEO, Revira

A badger that has used the same route for years will not stop because you put up a fence. It will dig under it.

The fix is either a physical barrier that goes deeper than the badger digs, or a scent barrier that makes the route feel unsafe. Both work. They just take different amounts of effort.

What the law says

This matters before you start digging, because getting it wrong is a criminal offence.

The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 makes it an offence to kill, injure or take a badger. It also protects their homes. You cannot damage, destroy or block access to a sett without a licence.

There is an important distinction between a sett and a run.

• A sett is a structure used for shelter or breeding. Blocking an entrance is illegal.
• A run is a worn path through the landscape. You are generally allowed to secure your own boundary along one.

Look for fresh bedding, such as dry grass or straw, and a large spoil heap of excavated soil. Those point to a sett. A run has neither.

If you are unsure, get advice before you touch it. Licences are issued by Natural England in England, and by the equivalent body in Wales and Scotland.

Why badgers target the fence line

Badgers are creatures of habit. They follow the same route for generations, and a new fence across it is treated as an obstacle rather than a reason to change direction.

A flattened trail of grass leading up to the boundary is a badger run. That is where they will dig.

Most of the digging on the other side is a search for food. Earthworms make up a large part of a badger's diet, along with chafer grubs and leatherjackets.

Three things to look for:

• Snuffle holes. Small, cone-shaped pits where the badger has pushed its snout into soft ground after worms or grubs.
• Latrines. Shallow pits used as communal toilets, usually near the boundary, marking territory.
• Worn paths. A clear trail leading directly to the point where the fence meets the ground.

If the lawn itself is the problem rather than the boundary, see our guide on how to stop badgers digging up your lawn.

How to block the gap with mesh

This is the permanent fix, and it works. It is also a real job.

Use 12-gauge galvanised wire mesh. Badgers are strong enough to tear through chicken wire or anything lighter.

1. Dig the trench

Dig roughly 30cm deep along the fence line, following the run.

2. Bend an L-shaped footer

Do not just bury the mesh straight down. Bend the bottom 15cm outwards, away from your garden, so it lies horizontally under the soil.

When the badger digs at the fence base, it ends up standing on the same mesh it is trying to get through.

3. Fix the top properly

Secure the mesh to the fence panels with heavy-duty staples or wire ties. A badger that cannot dig under will try to lift.

4. Cover it up

Gravel or bark chippings over the exposed mesh keeps the boundary tidy, and the loose surface is unpleasant to dig through.

Be aware that trenching along a boundary disturbs established plant roots, and it is heavy work over any distance.

A simple way to help keep badgers away

If digging a trench is more than you want to take on, a scent barrier does a similar job with far less effort.

Revira is a natural, non-toxic deterrent designed to help keep badgers, mice and voles away from gardens and boundaries.

It works on scent. Applied along the run, it helps make the route feel less safe, so the badger is more likely to go round.

Revira is:

• non-toxic
• safe for children and pets
• harmless to wildlife

The granules are clay-based, so the scent is released slowly rather than washing off in the first shower. That is the main practical difference from sprays and DIY mixtures.

See the mice, rodent and badger deterrent.

Where to apply it

Precision matters more than quantity.

Apply along the specific run where the badger crosses the boundary, not scattered across the lawn. You are building a line at the point of conflict, not covering an area.

Reapply every three to six months, and after prolonged heavy rain.

Expect it to take a couple of weeks. You are breaking a route the animal has used for a long time, so it will test the boundary a few times before giving up on it.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to block a badger hole under my fence?

Yes, if it is a run into your property rather than a sett entrance. Blocking a sett is a criminal offence under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

Check for fresh bedding and a large mound of excavated soil before you start. Both point to a sett.

How deep do I need to bury a fence to stop badgers?

At least 30cm, with the bottom 15cm bent outwards into an L-shape. The horizontal section is what does the work: the badger stands on the barrier it is trying to dig through.

What smell deters badgers?

DIY scents such as chilli or citronella move a badger on briefly, but they wash away with the first rain. A clay-based granule holds the scent for far longer, which is what breaks the habit.

Will badgers give up if I keep blocking their path?

Usually, but not immediately. They are persistent and will try to reopen a blocked route for several nights.

Faced with a barrier that stays put, they take the easier route instead. Two weeks of consistency is a reasonable expectation.

Do I need to do both the mesh and the granules?

No. Either works on its own. Together they work faster, since the scent discourages the badger from approaching the fence in the first place.

Written by: Per Arne Reiersrud, CEO, Revira