Abstract
AbstractDuring a monitoring study of a single social group of badger (Meles meles) at an urban site, incidental observations were noted of mammalian and avian species feeding within and removing material from M. meles dung pits. In response to these observations, infra-red cameras were deployed at dung pits for a 10-week period to document the nature, timing and frequency of these behaviours. Cameras were triggered a total of 954 times by a total of nine mammal and 12 bird species. Harvesting of material accounted for 28 % of latrine-associated behaviours. Results may have implications for disease transmission and the efficacy of badger surveys, particularly in areas where brown rats are prevalent.
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Reference20 articles.
1. Ancrenaz, M. , Hearn, A. J. , Ross, J. , Sollmann, R. and Wilting, A. (2012) Handbook for wildlife monitoring using camera-traps [online].BBEC II Secretariat (ed.)Sabah, BBEC II Secretariat Available at: <>.
2. Cheeseman, C. and Neal, E. G. (1998) Badgers. London, Poyser Natural History.
3. Wildlife disease reservoirs: the epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis infection in the European badger (Meles meles) and other British mammals
4. The use of marked bait in studies of the territorial organization of the European Badger (Meles meles)
5. Optimising Camera Traps for Monitoring Small Mammals Alistair;PLoS ONE,2013