Food, Food Availability and Weight of Badgers (Meles meles) in Relation to Agricultural Changes

Abstract

(1) The food of badgers was studied by analysis of faeces collected over 8 years in an area in northern Scotland [UK]. The most important food was earthworms, followed by barley. (2) During the study earthworm populations declined, and so did the badgers'' consumption of worms. Barley was taken when no more oats were available, and consumption rose to a relatively high level. (3) Badger body weights in spring and early summer were positively correlated with earthworm consumption at those times of year. (4) It is postulated that at times of low availability of earthworms in spring badgers lose weight, and they compensate by eating other foods, especially barley, later in the year.