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Ectoparasites and sett use by badgers
Journal
Animal Behaviour, Volume
52,Number 3, 1996, pp. 621-629(9) -
Academic Press
Authors
BUTLER J.M.; ROPER T.J. from the
School of Biological Sciences,
University of Sussex
Abstract
The European badger, Meles meles , constructs burrows
(`setts') of various sizes and types, some of which are very large and
complex. The hypothesis that large setts allow badgers to move regularly
from one nest chamber to another, thereby avoiding accumulation of ectoparasites, was tested. The ectoparasite
load of 32 wild badgers was measured and the daytime sleeping locations of 33
radiocollared individuals, 16 of which were treated with anti-parasite spray,
recorded. Untreated badgers were infested with fleas, ticks and lice, and they
regularly shifted from one sleeping site to another within a sett, rarely
spending more than 2 or 3 consecutive days at the same site. Anti-parasite
treatment decreased the frequency with which badgers switched to different nest
sites. Badgers did not choose sleeping sites at random when returning to the
sett each morning: they tended to return more often than would be expected by
chance to a site that they had occupied the previous day, and less often than
expected to a site that had been vacated by another member of the group on the
preceding night. Badgers may thus remain in the same nest until perceived
ectoparasite challenge exceeds a certain threshold and avoid nests recently
vacated by a conspecific because the level of infestation of such nests is also
likely to exceed the threshold. Use of multiple nests as a defence against
ectoparasites may be a common trait in burrowing mammals.
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