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Use of marked bait in badger territories
Journal
Mammal Review, Volume
30, Number 2, June 2000, pp. 73-87(15) -
Blackwell Publishing
Authors
Delahay R.J.; Brown J.A.; Mallinson P.J.; Spyvee
P.D.; Handoll D.; Rogers L.M.; Cheeseman C.L.
Abstract
Bait-marking is a widely used technique for determining the territorial
configuration of social groups of the Badger.
Applications include ecological research and applied wildlife management
problems. Bait laced with indigestible plastic pellets is fed to Badger social
groups, and the markers are identified in subsequent defecations. Feeding a
unique colour and/or shape of pellet to each social group allows the origin of
droppings to be assigned. This method is particularly suited to Badgers because
they mark their territorial boundaries with communal latrines. In this paper the
technique is described in detail for the first time in the scientific
literature. Data from sequential visits to latrines during the survey period
showed significant short-term variation in the number of marked droppings
counted at individual latrines. This suggests that counting marked droppings may
be of limited value in quantifying defecation rates and latrine use. However,
counts of droppings at latrines could be useful if repeated over time and/or
grouped into broad categories. Bait marking does provide reliable data for the
estimation of territorial boundaries between Badger groups, although it is
labour intensive and time-consuming, with the best results obtained by
experienced fieldworkers.
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