Study

A dose–response trial with ziram-treated maize and free-ranging European badgers Meles meles

  • Published source details Baker S.E., Ellwood S.A., Watkins R.W. & Macdonald D.W. (2005) A dose–response trial with ziram-treated maize and free-ranging European badgers Meles meles. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 93, 309-321.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Use repellents that taste bad (‘contact repellents’) to deter crop or property damage by mammals to reduce human-wildlife conflict

Action Link
Terrestrial Mammal Conservation
  1. Use repellents that taste bad (‘contact repellents’) to deter crop or property damage by mammals to reduce human-wildlife conflict

    A replicated, randomized, controlled study (year not stated) in a woodland in Oxfordshire, UK (Baker et al. 2005) found that treating corn cobs with the repellent, ziram, reduced the rate of its consumption by European badgers Meles meles. Fewer corn cobs treated with ziram were damaged by badgers (39–63% of cobs) than were untreated cobs (82% of cobs). Among badgers that were repeat visitors to feeding stations, treated cobs were fed on (as opposed to rejected) on a lower proportion of occasions (10–34%) than were untreated cobs (60%). At two sites, 450 m apart, feeding stations were established, each offering 12 corn cobs and water. Sites were pre-baited, to encourage attendance, and the experiment ran for five nights. Cobs were treated, in equal numbers, with 5%, 10%, 20% or 40% ziram in water or with water alone (as an untreated control). Treatments were assigned randomly across cobs.

    (Summarised by: Nick Littlewood)

Output references
What Works 2021 cover

What Works in Conservation

What Works in Conservation provides expert assessments of the effectiveness of actions, based on summarised evidence, in synopses. Subjects covered so far include amphibians, birds, mammals, forests, peatland and control of freshwater invasive species. More are in progress.

More about What Works in Conservation

Download free PDF or purchase
The Conservation Evidence Journal

The Conservation Evidence Journal

An online, free to publish in, open-access journal publishing results from research and projects that test the effectiveness of conservation actions.

Read the latest volume: Volume 21

Go to the CE Journal

Discover more on our blog

Our blog contains the latest news and updates from the Conservation Evidence team, the Conservation Evidence Journal, and our global partners in evidence-based conservation.


Who uses Conservation Evidence?

Meet some of the evidence champions

Endangered Landscape ProgrammeRed List Champion - Arc Kent Wildlife Trust The Rufford Foundation Mauritian Wildlife Supporting Conservation Leaders
Sustainability Dashboard National Biodiversity Network Frog Life The international journey of Conservation - Oryx Cool Farm Alliance UNEP AWFA Bat Conservation InternationalPeople trust for endangered species Vincet Wildlife Trust