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Estimates of regional population densities of badger Meles meles, fox Vulpes vulpes and hare Lepus europaeus using walked distance sampling

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Abstract

Walked spotlight transect surveys with distance sampling were used to estimate regional population densities of badger (Meles meles), fox (Vulpes vulpes) and brown hare (Lepus europaeus) in south-west England (Cornwall, Devon, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire) and Wales (Pembrokeshire, Borders, North Wales). All regions were surveyed during spring 2006 with English regions re-surveyed in autumn 2006. In each region, surveys were conducted in a random sample of 19.6 km2 areas (mean areas per region: spring = 19, autumn = 25). Within each survey area, a semi-random transect was established in each of a random sample of fields (open habitat almost exclusively pasture). Transects were subsequently walked at night with spotlights (mean transects per survey area: spring = 21, autumn = 21). Each area was surveyed twice during a season. Total transect length per region ranged from 137 to 193 km in spring and 230 to 250 km in autumn. The mean density of species per region was: badger 1.5–4.8 km−2, fox 1.0–4.0 km−2, hare 0.4–4.6 km−2. The study has provided baseline estimates of regional densities against which any future equivalent surveys can be compared. It has also illustrated the practical application of large-scale walked distance sampling to surveys of British mammals.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Assembly Government. We acknowledge all the landowners and farmers who permitted access to their land. Thanks are due to all those field staff who took part in the project. We would also like to thank two anonymous referees for comments on the manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. Thomas R. Etherington

    Present address: School of Environment, The University of Auckland, Private Bag, 92019, Auckland, New Zealand

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, UK

    Dave Parrott, Anthony Prickett, Stéphane Pietravalle, Thomas R. Etherington & Mark Fletcher

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  1. Dave Parrott
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  2. Anthony Prickett
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  3. Stéphane Pietravalle
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  4. Thomas R. Etherington
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  5. Mark Fletcher
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Correspondence to Dave Parrott.

Additional information

Communicated by P. Acevedo

Anthony Prickett is now retired

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Parrott, D., Prickett, A., Pietravalle, S. et al. Estimates of regional population densities of badger Meles meles, fox Vulpes vulpes and hare Lepus europaeus using walked distance sampling. Eur J Wildl Res 58, 23–33 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-011-0536-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-011-0536-8

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