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Birds in the diet of the badger
Journal
Mammal Review, Volume
35, Number 2, April 2005, pp. 199-209(11) -
Blackwell Publishing
Authors
HOUNSOME, TIM; DELAHAY, RICHARD
Abstract
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We reviewed 110 published studies of badger diet or
badger predation of birds. The studies covered most of the Eurasian
badger's range, from Ireland east to Japan and from Sweden south to
southern Spain.
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Bird remains were recorded in 2038 cases out of a
total 36699 samples of badger faeces and stomachs. The overall
percentage frequency of occurrence of bird remains in badger faeces and
stomachs was 5.55% for all studies combined, and 7.97% for UK studies.
The remains of 45 bird species from 11 orders were recorded.
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The percentage frequency of occurrence of birds in
badger diet increased significantly with latitude. There was no
significant relationship between the occurrence of birds in badger diet
and season.
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While the prevalence of birds in the diet of badgers
is generally low, the studies reviewed here provide insufficient
evidence to assess whether badger predation has an impact on bird
populations at a national scale, and experimental approaches to this
problem are required.
Keywords
diet variation; game; impact; predation;
predator–prey; wildlife conflict; wildlife management
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