Urban badger setts: characteristics, patterns of use and management implications
Abstract
Damage caused by badger setts is an important source of human–carnivore conflict in urban areas of the UK, yet little is known about the spatial distribution of urban badger setts or their pattern of occupation. We compared the density, spatial distribution and size of setts in four urban and two rural study areas in the UK and assessed the applicability to urban systems of distinguishing between ‘main’ and ‘outlier’ setts. In addition, we used radio-telemetry to investigate diurnal patterns of sett use in one urban area (Brighton). It was possible to distinguish between main and outlier setts in urban environments, and local sett densities were comparable in urban and rural areas. However, urban badgers used substantially fewer setts than did a nearby rural population, and they spent a smaller proportion of days in outlier setts. Social groups with larger ranges had more setts available to them and, within groups, individuals with larger ranges used more setts. Outliers appeared to serve multiple functions, including allowing efficient and safe travel to important parts of the home range. We conclude that sett densities can be high in urban habitats, suggesting significant potential for settrelated problems to arise. The fact that urban main setts can be distinguished from outliers enables management actions to be tailored accordingly. In particular, because main setts seem to represent a particularly valuable resource to urbanCitation
Urban badger setts: characteristics, patterns of use and management implications 2008, 275 (2):190 Journal of ZoologyJournal
Journal of ZoologyDOI
10.1111/j.1469-7998.2008.00424.xAdditional Links
http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2008.00424.xType
ArticleISSN
0952-83691469-7998
ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1111/j.1469-7998.2008.00424.x
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