Tero Ratinen, some hunting buddies, and Tero's dachshund have today taken three badgers from one sett. Some of the underground tunnel systems created by badgers are lengthy and elaborate and have been used for decades by many animals.
As a side note, it is so interesting that, like skunks, the heads of badgers have this black/white "warning coloration."
As a side note, it is so interesting that, like skunks, the heads of badgers have this black/white "warning coloration."
Tero's young bitch Riesa did a good job hunting badgers today. Here she is pulling on a badger that was killed with a gun after hunters dug down to dog and badger to the point where they could make the shot.
It is the dachshund's responsibility to investigate a den, determine whether a badger is home, pursue the animal to a stopping point, oppose it hard enough to keep it in one location, and announce its positive findings and whereabouts by barking.
It is the job of the hunters to dig to the dog and badger, after which they quickly call the dog out and shoot the badger. An obedient dog is a must in this situation. Contrary to common (mis)conception, dachshunds must cooperate with hunters in their work. It cannot be any other way.
You can see that Riesa is wearing a locator collar. The collar has a radio-frequency device that sends signals to a small hand-held box used by the hunters to help determine just where the dog is and how deep. They obviously want to pinpoint location as much as possible before they begin to dig!
It is the dachshund's responsibility to investigate a den, determine whether a badger is home, pursue the animal to a stopping point, oppose it hard enough to keep it in one location, and announce its positive findings and whereabouts by barking.
It is the job of the hunters to dig to the dog and badger, after which they quickly call the dog out and shoot the badger. An obedient dog is a must in this situation. Contrary to common (mis)conception, dachshunds must cooperate with hunters in their work. It cannot be any other way.
You can see that Riesa is wearing a locator collar. The collar has a radio-frequency device that sends signals to a small hand-held box used by the hunters to help determine just where the dog is and how deep. They obviously want to pinpoint location as much as possible before they begin to dig!
This photo is from a hunt on January 7. The hole these guys have dug is 11 feet deep and they are still digging! Afterward, too, they will be filling it all back in again. They do not make large holes in the countryside and leave them like this. They also shore up the 'ceiling' of the tunnels they break into to get to the dachshund and badger, and earth dwelling animals will continue to use them.
You can imagine the amount of effort required here. Also effort by the dog who - think of this - is more than 11 feet underground in a tight place, facing and holding the badger all this time. Sometimes for hours.
Or, I should say, that in all the digging through frozen earth, tree roots, and rock ledges, expectations are high that the badger IS staying in the same location. But sometimes it does manage to move until the dog can get it cornered again elsewhere at which time digging begins again.
"Extreme hunting" may not be too lofty a term for what badger hunters and badger dogs do on a regular basis.
You can imagine the amount of effort required here. Also effort by the dog who - think of this - is more than 11 feet underground in a tight place, facing and holding the badger all this time. Sometimes for hours.
Or, I should say, that in all the digging through frozen earth, tree roots, and rock ledges, expectations are high that the badger IS staying in the same location. But sometimes it does manage to move until the dog can get it cornered again elsewhere at which time digging begins again.
"Extreme hunting" may not be too lofty a term for what badger hunters and badger dogs do on a regular basis.