Translocation of a Social Group of Badgers
Journal
Animal Welfare 1996, 5: 289-309
Authors
J A Brown and C L Cheeseman
Abstract
A social group of six badgers (four adults and two cubs) was
translocated from urban Bexhill, East Sussex, in August 1993 to a
1216m2 electrified enclosure in a part of Suffolk largely unoccupied
by badgers. Three adult badgers (SY2, SY5 and SY6) escaped from the release site
prior to the removal of the perimeter fence on 10 December and established a
sett near a village, 2.9km from the release site. In January 1994, the remaining
adult (SY4) left the release site and moved 1.8km to the grounds of a youth
detention centre. The cubs did not desert the site as readily as the adults.
Home-range sizes for two adult females, SY4 and SY6, remained relatively
constant, while that of adult male SY2 increased from 50ha in February to nearly
400ha in April. The range of SY2 overlapped parts of the ranges of the two
females, although SY4 and SY6's ranges never overlapped.
The percentage volume of scavenged food in the diet increased monthly between
February and April which corresponded to increased garden activity over this
period. Earthworms were the most important item in the diet. The establishment
of both main setts near housing and the preference for foraging in gardens
suggests that badgers released into novel environments may search for familiar
habitats.
It is concluded that translocation can successfully establish badgers at new
locations. However, translocation as a solution to problems caused by badgers
must only be viewed as a last resort, not least due to the potential for disease
spread.
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