Authors
George, S.C. & Campbell, S.
Abstract
Closed circuit television and camera traps were used to investigate whether wild badgers would scavenge from or remove fresh lamb carcasses during spring lambing period in Scotland. Nine carcasses were deployed within a mixed woodland in May over two consecutive years and monitored continuously for seven days each.
A total of 127 individual badger interactions with carcass sites were recorded, on 37 of 59 observation nights. Badgers frequently investigated, foraged and scent marked nearby, but no badger scavenging or carcass manipulation was observed over the study period. Foxes were recorded on three occasions and were responsible for the removal of two carcasses.
These results provide no evidence that badgers routinely remove or consume lamb carcasses under the conditions studied and are consistent with previous research suggesting that such behaviour is uncommon.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.59922/FGHN8875
Full Citation
George, S.C. & Campbell, S. (2026) Camera observations of Eurasian badger (Meles meles) interactions at lamb carcasses. Mammal Communications Vol. 11: 16-23 https://doi.org/10.59922/FGHN8875
