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Electric Fence Effectiveness in reducing badger damage to field
crops
Journal
Crop Protection -
Volume
21, Issue 5 , June 2002, Pages 409-417
Authors
D. W. Poole,
I. G. McKillop,
G. Western,
P. J. Hancocks
and J. J. Packer
Abstract
The effectiveness of an electric strained-wire fence
to exclude badgers was assessed in a two-year study conducted on
commercial farms in the south-west of England. Twelve forage maize fields, with a history of badger damage, were
selected from these farms and the test fence erected at six of them. The
remaining six were left unfenced and acted as controls. The fences were
erected prior to cob emergence and remained in place until harvest when
estimates of crop damage were made. Fence effectiveness was determined
by comparing the amount of damage in the fenced and control fields.
Habitat use and ranging behaviour of a sub-sample of badgers were also
studied to determine whether they entered fields prior to fence erection
and where they went in response to exclusion. Badger welfare, in terms
of humaneness, was evaluated by comparing the night-time activity
periods of badgers and by monitoring their daytime use of setts. The
fence proved an effective barrier to the movement of badgers with damage
to plants in the fenced fields representing only 5% of that in the
corresponding unfenced controls (fenced: 24±19 plants damaged/ha;
unfenced: 433±161 plants damaged/ha). Only one badger was observed
within the fenced fields with most preferring to forage on pasture,
unfenced forage maize and other cereals following fence erection.
Erection of the fences had no detrimental effect upon the length of time
badgers were active or on where they rested during the day. The fence
design therefore shows considerable potential as an effective and humane
method of excluding badgers from field crops and other vulnerable areas.
Keywords
Electric fences; Badger damage; Badger management
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