Poor Badger

Simon W · 14th March 2007, 00:43

I ran a young badger over this evening. The poor thing shot out from the verge about seven yards in front of the car, which was doing around 45mph. No chance whatsoever of avoiding it. Very upsetting.

I'm not sure what became of it. I turned round and went back but couldn't find anything. It made an extremely loud bang so I can't believe it got up and walked away. As far as I can see (it's dark), there's nothing on the underside of the car except a single badger hair stuck in one of the splash tray screws.

Kandyman · 14th March 2007, 08:15

Bad news about the badger

lovely animals to watch, lucky no damage was done to your car as i hit a fox a few years back and it made a right mess of te front of the car.

Phil · 14th March 2007, 20:30

Very sad.

Hope he/she's ok though.
Aren't badgers supposed to be viscious?

Keith · 15th March 2007, 20:14

I posted a similar tale elsewhere, as an inexperienced driver years ago I would desperately try to avoid such events even if as a result I ended up putting myself in danger.

Today with for example my three little boys on board I am a different driver the critter loses, sad but a fact

It is a difficult situation to drive through but you need to be able to think assess and react in time if there is not a safe diversionary path then don't take one

You don't have long to decide and the consequences of taking knee jerk avoiding action for a furry critter can be very serious

But in saying that your abilities and reactions still need to be good enough to avoid a child for example

ABS has been with us for years but how many of us actually practice evasive steering under heavy braking with the ABS working? It is an acquired technique most people freeze and just continue in a straight line.

So I guess what I an saying is don't feel too guilty for the poor Badger but if the next time it is a Human, Cow, Deer or Horse then I recommend avoiding action or better, stopping, I have seen what a Horse and a Deer can do to a Car (not mine) not a pretty sight

GreyGhost · 16th March 2007, 07:21

Thank you Simon

Not only did you reduce a grown man to tears you also managed to make lifes current little problems fade into insignificance. Thank you for sharing your experience.

Neil Coupland · 16th March 2007, 12:25

Have just read this and echo GG's comments above, thank you for sharing it with us.

Neil

bad-head-day · 17th March 2007, 01:26

That's a very sad tale mate I hope I'm never in the same situation myself.

14th March 2007, 00:43	#1
Simon W This is my second home Rover 75 2.0 Litre Club Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: S Posts: 3,280 Thanks: 38 Thanked 50 Times in 47 Posts	Poor Badger I ran a young badger over this evening. The poor thing shot out from the verge about seven yards in front of the car, which was doing around 45mph. No chance whatsoever of avoiding it. Very upsetting. I'm not sure what became of it. I turned round and went back but couldn't find anything. It made an extremely loud bang so I can't believe it got up and walked away. As far as I can see (it's dark), there's nothing on the underside of the car except a single badger hair stuck in one of the splash tray screws. Last edited by Simon W; 14th March 2007 at 08:38..

14th March 2007, 20:30	#3
Phil This is my second home Rover 75 CDT Connoisseur SE Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 12,227 Thanks: 469 Thanked 523 Times in 241 Posts	Very sad. Hope he/she's ok though. Aren't badgers supposed to be viscious? __________________

14th March 2007, 08:15	#2
Kandyman Banned ROVER 75 2.5 V6 Connoisseur SE Limousine 2004 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Welling Posts: 10,995 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Bad news about the badger lovely animals to watch, lucky no damage was done to your car as i hit a fox a few years back and it made a right mess of te front of the car.

15th March 2007, 20:14	#4
Keith This is my second home ZT400 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ellesmere Posts: 5,948 Thanks: 0 Thanked 43 Times in 29 Posts	I posted a similar tale elsewhere, as an inexperienced driver years ago I would desperately try to avoid such events even if as a result I ended up putting myself in danger. Today with for example my three little boys on board I am a different driver the critter loses, sad but a fact It is a difficult situation to drive through but you need to be able to think assess and react in time if there is not a safe diversionary path then don't take one You don't have long to decide and the consequences of taking knee jerk avoiding action for a furry critter can be very serious But in saying that your abilities and reactions still need to be good enough to avoid a child for example ABS has been with us for years but how many of us actually practice evasive steering under heavy braking with the ABS working? It is an acquired technique most people freeze and just continue in a straight line. So I guess what I an saying is don't feel too guilty for the poor Badger but if the next time it is a Human, Cow, Deer or Horse then I recommend avoiding action or better, stopping, I have seen what a Horse and a Deer can do to a Car (not mine) not a pretty sight

16th March 2007, 07:21	#5
GreyGhost Banned 180+ Sport Auto Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bedford Middle Level Posts: 17,787 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 5 Posts	Thank you Simon Not only did you reduce a grown man to tears you also managed to make lifes current little problems fade into insignificance. Thank you for sharing your experience.

16th March 2007, 12:25	#6
Neil Coupland Gets stuck in Range Rover Sport, MG TF 160 Aubergine Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nottingham Posts: 693 Thanks: 21 Thanked 20 Times in 17 Posts	Have just read this and echo GG's comments above, thank you for sharing it with us. Neil

17th March 2007, 01:26	#7
bad-head-day Loves to post Citroen C4 Loeb Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Staffordshire Posts: 372 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	That's a very sad tale mate I hope I'm never in the same situation myself.