The Use of Pasture by the European Badger (Meles meles)

Abstract

The earthworm Lumbricus terrestris was the predominant food of the European badger, M. meles. In the badger''s habitat, L. terrestris was most abundant under pasture. Badgers caught worms on the surface at night; when feeding in grassland, their foraging efficiency was related to grass length. Within their ranges, badgers avoided pasture with long grass and with relatively low worm densities. Reducing worm populations chemically or increasing grass length by a different grazing routine may make badgers avoid cattle-grazed pasture. This could be effective in preventing the contamination of cattle by badgers with bovine tuberculosis.