Protected Burrowing Badgers Take Over Netherlands Train Tracks

Because burrowing badgers, which is a protected species in the Netherlands, have taken over the train tracks, authorities are having difficulty.

In addition to signal problems, strikes, and leaves on the tracks, commuters in the Netherlands are dealing with railway chaos brought on by badgers tunneling under the lines. Authorities are finding it difficult to entice the protected animals out of their burrows.

7,000 Protected Burrowing Badgers

There is little natural space for the nation's 7,000 badgers in the highly populated nation. They frequently dig up their homes, or setts, beneath relatively "quiet" railroad embankments, which are conveniently located far from residents or travelers and slightly elevated, preventing flooding in the sett.

The railway track may be compromised in 40 locations, according to recent information from the Netherlands. Rail network manager ProRail is constructing an artificial sett in Friesland to entice wildlife to a safer location.

Aldert Baas, a spokesman for ProRail, stated that since the embankment surrounding the track is made of sand, badgers are drawn to it as a place to build their setts.

According to Baas, there aren't many visitors, which is perfect for the shy badger, and the area is frequently elevated because Friesland is so flat.

This week, ProRail reported that due to an unsafe line caused by a sett under the rails at Esch, trains between Den Bosch station and Boxtel in the south had been stopped. This also affected the movement of goods.

The chief executive of ProRail, John Voppen, stated via the ProRail website that because the protected burrowing badgers are digging under a railway line for the second time in a week, train traffic has to be stopped. This problem takes a long time to solve because we need permission from the appropriate authorities.

Digging Up Burrowing Badgers

If the authorities dig up the sett in Esch, volunteers from Dassenwerkgroep Brabant, the badger work group, are prepared to help any injured animals. Karin Derikx, a board member, feels that it is not yet the right time.

The badgers have waited too long, according to Derikx. Badgers are more reticent in the winter, and they clean up and dig more in the spring. The alarm goes off suddenly for that reason.

The rest of their pregnancy lasts until July. Derikx asserted that Dassenwerkgroep Brabant is aware of the requirements of the train operators; however, the board maintains that the timing is simply inappropriate, The Guardian reports.

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UPDATE: Eviction and Repairs

To facilitate repairs and the restoration of rail service at Esch in Brabant, rail operator ProRail has begun making preparations to persuade a family of badgers to depart from their den under the rails.

Following a dispute over who should bear the blame for the length of time it has taken to address the issue between ProRail and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO, which issues the permits, permission to evict the protected badgers was granted on Wednesday night.

According to ProRail, they have been permitted to remove the badgers using specific techniques. Because badgers are nocturnal, the activities will be done during the day. They include mowing the grass near the site to deter badgers and installing one-way doors facing the entrance holes to prevent badgers from returning after going out foraging.

ProRail stated that any additional badgers discovered while the sett is being excavated will be tranquilized and treated under the supervision of a veterinarian and an ecologist.

To prevent badgers from trying to dig in again after repairs, wire fencing will be installed. At the end of the following week, ProRail anticipates services between Boxtel and Den Bosch will resume, DutchNews.nl reports.