Date of Award:

5-1971

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Wildland Resources

Department name when degree awarded

Wildlife Resources

Committee Chair(s)

Frederic H. Wagner

Committee

Frederic H. Wagner

Committee

David Balph

Committee

Frank Clark

Committee

Stephanie Lindzey

Committee

Lew Nelson

Committee

Juan Spillett

Committee

Jeb Stuart

Abstract

Between March, 1969 and July, 1970, 16 badgers (Taxidea taxus) were caught and fitted with radio transmitters in the southern part of Curlew Valley. The animals were followed telemetrically; seven animals contributed sufficient data from which home-range, movement and activity patterns could be discerned. The aver age annual home-range size of five females was 664 acres (± s.d. 99 .5 acres). Female home-range sizes were approximately the same within crested wheat-grass (Agropyron aristatum) and sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) vegetation types, with greater distances traveled each night by females in the crested wheat-grass. Both home-range size and total movement were less during winter in the one badger observed during more than one season. The average home range of two males followed between September and mid-December was 1,440 acreas, twice the average female home-range size.

The necropsy of badgers in the study collection and a scat collection yielded information on the food habits and breeding biology of badgers in Curlew Valley. Many prey species were used, but mice were the most frequently eaten food item. Badgers bred between mid-July and the end of August. Delayed implantation PE sisted until approximately January 26. Pregnant females gave birth to an average of 2.2 young about April 1.

Checksum

4c646ad3cb230281a3d1fc113a96f986

Download

Share

COinS

Copyright for this work is retained by the student. If you have any questions regarding the inclusion of this work in the Digital Commons, please email us at .