It's not always easy to tell if a badger sett is active, says Steve Harris. Badgers have on average five setts in their territory, though most are quite small, and only the largest - the main sett - is in constant use. This is where the social group usually breeds, raises their cubs and spends the day.
The other setts typically provide bolt holes if a badger is disturbed or needs to rest during a nocturnal foraging bout, and thus may not be used for long periods, particularly in winter.
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Badgers don't hibernate, but they do undergo a period of inactivity in January and February. They emerge from the main sett for just a few minutes each night and rarely venture far. So, it is normal for the smaller dwellings to appear unoccupied in winter. Even the main sett may show little evidence that a group of badgers is in residence.
However, in spring the setts appear much busier, with freshly dug soil, lots of pawprints outside and generally one or more active latrines nearby containing fresh faeces.