Using electric fences to exclude
badgers
Journal
Crop
Protection - Volume
18, Issue 1 , January 1999, Pages 61-66
Authors
D. W. Poole, and I. G. McKillop from the Central
Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, York
Abstract
The effectiveness of a new two-strand design of electric field strained-wire
fence (Central Science Laboratory fence) for excluding badgers was assessed in a two year trial conducted in the south-west of
England. Its effectiveness was compared with that of electrified netting
currently recommended to manage badgers. The fences were erected to prevent
badgers feeding at bait points to which they had previously had unrestricted
access. Effectiveness was measured by comparing bait consumption before and
after fence erection. Observations of badger behaviour at CSL fences were also
conducted to determine how badgers reacted to the fence and to assess the
humaneness of the design with regard to badger welfare. Humaneness was further
assessed by comparing the night time activity periods of badgers before and
after fence erection and by monitoring their daytime use of setts. Both the CSL
and netting fences were 99% effective and reduced bait consumption almost
completely. Only one badger was seen to cross the CSL fence although 18 were
observed to touch its wires. The majority of badgers learnt to avoid the fence
following the night of erection and were rarely seen near the fence on
subsequent nights. The erection of the CSL fence had no effect upon the length
of time badgers were active at night or where they slept during the day. These
fences could now be recommended for use to exclude badgers from gardens,
allotments or other similarly sized areas. However, further research is
necessary before they could be recommended for use on a field scale which would
exclude them from larger parts of their territories.
Keywords
Electric fences; Meles meles; Badger; Behaviour;
Management; Control
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