MEMBERS of a Forest badger protection group claim a sett near Soudley has been deserted because of the creation of a cycle track.
Several holes were filled in and spoil heaps were removed to create a series of jumps in a circuit over the sett area, says the Forest of Dean Badger Patrol.
Spokesperson Tracey Lambert said: "This is probably the action of local children who discovered a great area for building jumps for their bikes.
"However badgers are legally protected against disturbance and damage to their setts. At this time of the year the sett should be thriving with activity as the badger cubs are spending more and more time above ground."
She says she fears animals may have been killed by the activities.
"There is now very little evidence of badger activity and every possibility that badgers were trapped beneath the section where holes have been filled.
"We would urge anyone out cycling not to venture off well defined paths and to respect and be aware of wildlife in the Forest.
"The law has been broken and badgers seriously affected. We need to avoid this happening again."