Effectiveness of an electric fence to reduce badger (Meles meles) damage to field crops

The effectiveness of an electric strained-wire fence to exclude badgers (Meles meles) was assessed in a two-year study conducted on commercial farms in the south-west of England. Twelve forage maize (Zea mais) fields, with a history of badger damage, were selected from these farms and the test fence erected at six of them. The remaining six were left unfenced and acted as controls. The fences were erected prior to cob emergence and remained in place until harvest when estimates of crop damage were made. Fence effectiveness was determined by comparing the amount of damage in the fenced and control fields. Habitat use and ranging behaviour of a sub-sample of badgers were also studied to determine whether they entered fields prior to fence erection and where they went in response to exclusion. Badger welfare, in terms of humaneness, was evaluated by comparing the night-time activity periods of badgers and by monitoring their daytime use of setts. The fence proved an effective barrier to the movement of badgers with damage to plants in the fenced fields representing only 5% of that in the corresponding unfenced controls (fenced: 24 +/- 19 plants damaged/ha; unfenced: 433 +/- 161 plants damaged/ha). Only one badger was observed within the fenced fields with most preferring to forage on pasture, unfenced forage maize and other cereals following fence erection. Erection of the fences had no detrimental effect upon the length of time badgers were active or on where they rested during the day. The fence design therefore shows considerable potential as an effective and humane method of excluding badgers from field crops and other vulnerable areas. Crown Copyright (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.