health
Too many holes! Why badgers are digging up Britain’s lovingly maintained golf courses
Thanks to the drought, these black-and-white beauties are struggling to catch worms in the rock-hard earth. But there’s still good foraging on well-watered fairways and greens
TL;DR
- The UK is experiencing a historically hot summer with a severe drought, leading to dry and hard earth.
- Badgers, whose food typically lives underground, are struggling to find worms and grubs.
- Golf courses are exempt from hosepipe bans due to the Water Use (Temporary Bans) Order 2010.
- This exemption means golf courses have well-watered lawns, which become foraging grounds for badgers.
- Golf courses across the UK have reported greens being torn up by badgers seeking food.
- The situation has caused upset among golf course managers and some members of the public.
- The article questions the fairness of golf courses being exempt from water bans during a national crisis.