A Guide to Responsible Wildlife Photography by Badger Trust Youth Ambassador, Rachel Bigsby

2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year ‘Natural Artistry’ award winner shares five tips for ethical badger photography.

Badger in bracken © Rachel Bigsby

Badgers are one of Britain’s most iconic mammals, and for wildlife photographers worldwide, badgers are a species that so many of us are desperate to photograph. Putting the well-being of wildlife first should be every photographer’s goal – however, in the thrill and excitement of seeing a badger, ethics can sometimes be accidentally overlooked.

As photographers, we have unparalleled equipment, opportunities and reach to find our photographic subjects, but at the same time, our wildlife faces an unprecedented threat to its survival. Badgers, for example, endure culling, crimes and persecution, habitat fragmentation, climate change and road traffic collisions, to name a few. So the last thing they need are photographers causing disturbances at the safety of their sett.

Social media also brings advantages and disadvantages to ethical wildlife photography. On one hand, it has the power to introduce the wonders of nature to a new audience and has become an essential tool to inspire the urge to protect wildlife and create change. On the other hand, social media encourages a community of photographers who take shortcuts at the expense of the subject, intent on chasing popularity, likes and followers.

Badger in golden light © Rachel Bigsby

So, what is responsible wildlife photography, and why does it matter?

Though there is no guidebook, and what is ethical to one may be unethical to another, we, as photographers, should all follow a handful of basic principles.

1. Do no harm

• Do not seek the attention or interaction of badgers by making noise or movement.

• Do not destroy or alter their sett for a better view or composition.

• Understand signs of stress or fear in badgers.
  

2. Practice your fieldcraft

• At the sett, you must respect the badgers' home.

• When approaching the sett, be slow and quiet, and ensure that you are downwind of the sett at all times.

• Remain at least 8m from the sett and never walk, kneel or sit on the sett or at its entrances.

• Be mindful of where you position yourself, your bag and your tripod to avoid blocking a latrine or badger pathway.

• Avoid wearing strong-scented perfumes or deodorants or transferring your scent onto the sett via your hands. By squat marking, badgers use scent as a form of social interaction and communication, something we shouldn’t interfere with!
  

3. Keep it wild!

• Be cautious about feeding badgers for photographic purposes and avoid habituating the badgers to human presence.

• The most considerate thing we can do for wildlife is to honour their wild life! However, the quickest way to compromise that is to offer a handful of peanuts so we can get a photo. Although feeding a supplementary diet to badgers is not strongly discouraged, it should be just that. Badgers will learn quickly to associate food with humans, and any food provided at the sett must not replace or alter their natural foraging behaviours.
  

4. Don’t flash them…

• The use of flash photography on badgers is a controversial topic.

• As there is a lack of scientific research into the effect of flash photography on badgers, we can only speculate what harm is or isn’t caused for now. Personally, I think it’s unethical, and I wouldn’t appreciate a blinding light in my eyes after emerging from the darkness of my underground world, but others may disagree.

• As always, monitoring and understanding the behavioural response of the badger should signal whether you can continue to use a flash or not.
  

5. Follow the law

• It is imperative to note that badgers are a protected species. Because of the high levels of persecution they face, badgers and their setts are protected by law. So, causing negligent or malicious harm to a badger or its sett is a criminal offence!

Responsibility, reputation and respect

These basic guidelines provide a starting point, but it’s up to each of us to build compassion into our practice and use our moral judgement as photographers.

Mistakes can happen, but we can always strive to be more responsible and aware. It is important to remember that word travels fast in the wildlife photography community, and unethical field practices can be readily exposed when things become suspicious on social media. Reputation is everything. It is your responsibility to ensure that you build your own reputation on respect for the wildlife you photograph.

Too often, each moment as a photographer is just about achieving the photograph, but to a badger, every single moment is about survival.

About Rachel Bigsby

Rachel Bigsby is a wildlife photographer, natural history broadcaster, wildlife enthusiast, and Badger Trust Youth Ambassador. Rachel and the badger clan she has studied for the past five years feature in Badger Trust’s short film, ‘State of the Badger’.

Rachel is also a winner in five of the world’s most prestigious photography competitions, including Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Bird Photographer of the Year, and a Nikon creator and a National Geographic published photographer.

It’s Rachel’s mission to connect a global audience to new species with captivating photographs which spark a newfound love or interest, perhaps empowering change while representing and inspiring young people. Rachel also breaks down barriers for women engaging in wildlife photography work, helping to make the industry more inclusive for all.

Visit Rachel’s website for photography and news updates. Receive a free e-book ‘An Introduction to Wildlife Photography’ when you subscribe to Rachel’s e-newsletter: www.rachelbigsby.com

See more of Rachel’s stunning photography on Instagram @rachelbigsby