They are omnivores whose black and white striped faces have entranced countless nature lovers.
But now badgers are causing a new kind of fuss after their interest in drainpipes has left a Norfolk village without water for days.
A clan of badgers has burst the water main in Bradfield, near North Walsham, leaving dozens of households with low pressure or no water at all.
Residents alerted Anglian Water last week after noticing flooding on Common Road.
But it’s not all black and white.
The road runs parallel to a large badger den which has been in the village for decades.
Both badgers and their setts are protected by law and Anglian Water has had to seek permission from Natural England to repair the pipes, which pass through a network of underground tunnels.
The water company has now been allowed to excavate around the sett and closed the road on Wednesday (January 24) to carry out repairs.
However, some locals are still without water.
Carolyn Mitchell, who lives in Hall Road near the den, said it’s not the first time the badgers have burst the water pipes.
“Around ten years ago they gnawed through a pipe and we were without water,” she said.
“They couldn’t fix it because badgers are protected so we had no water for four or five days.
"They can be a nightmare because they’re all over the place round here.
“I reported it to Anglian Water last week as water was pouring out of the drain and into the road.
“I’m a hairdresser, so I need water to be able to wash people’s hair.”
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Mrs Mitchell keeps horses at a paddock which is next to the badger’s den.
The badgers have burrowed under the stables and dug deep holes into the field, which she fears could risk injuring her horses.
She also said a badger once came through the cat flap at her parent’s home in the village.
“My cat used to go outside a lot, but we were watching Countryfile one day and she heard the noise of the badgers on the TV and it set her off,” she said.
“She doesn’t go out as much anymore and I think it’s because of the badgers.
“We see so many here.”
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Anglian Water has said despite the leak and ongoing repairs “residents are not off water”.
An Anglian Water spokesperson said: “We have a leak at Bradfield which has been caused by a badger set undermining the water main.
“Residents are not off water. We have some small incidents of low pressures and to reduce this we have installed a pump at the end of the main.
“We have been liaising closely with Natural England to gain permission to excavate around the badger set to allow repair, which is a complex procedure.
“Natural England has given us permission to work, we are now onsite with representatives of Natural England to carry out the repair and ensure the welfare of the badgers.”
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How badgers are protected
Badgers and their setts, which are the tunnels and chambers they live in, are protected by the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.
In the UK, it is an offence to take, injure, or kill a badger - or attempt these actions.
It is also an offence to: treat a badger cruelly; interfere with a badger sett; possess or control a live badger or mark or ring a badger.
Because it is an offence to interfere with a badger sett, Anglian Water had to seek permission from Natural England before carrying out works to repair the burst water main in Bradfield.
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