What Car? Q&A - What do I do if I hit a badger?

Q: I’ve seen a lot of dead badgers on the roads around my home recently, which have clearly been hit by cars. In fact, I almost hit one myself the other day. If I were to knock one down at some point, would I have to report it to anyone?
Darren Turner

A: Legally, you don’t have to report the incident. However, if you are interested in badger welfare, you might like to inform your local badger group. Contact details can be found at Badgertrust.org.uk.

If the badger is still on the road, and could represent a hazard to other motorists, we’d recommend informing the Police or Highways Agency.

While it’s not a legal requirement to report hitting a badger, it is if you run into a deer or farm animal. If this happens, you must report it to the Police so that they can arrange assistance if the animal has been injured, or removal of the body if it’s been killed.