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1 March 2016 Badger Behavior at Anthropogenic Water Sources in the Chihuahuan Desert
Robert L. Harrison
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Abstract

Anthropogenic water sources such as tanks and ponds for livestock and troughs for wildlife (guzzlers) have become ubiquitous features of arid landscapes. Many species of wildlife are attracted to guzzlers, but behavior at guzzlers and effects of guzzlers upon wildlife are often poorly understood. I recorded rates of drinking and visitation by American badgers (Taxidea taxus) at guzzlers in the northern Chihuahuan Desert by use of automatic cameras over a 2-year period. Badgers visited guzzlers throughout the year, and visited primarily at night. Badgers averaged 1.87 visits per site-week and drank during only 58% of visits. The rate of visitation and the number of drinking episodes per guzzler per week increased in summer, which, in addition to having higher temperatures, is also mating season for badgers.

© 2016
Robert L. Harrison "Badger Behavior at Anthropogenic Water Sources in the Chihuahuan Desert," Western North American Naturalist 76(1), 1-5, (1 March 2016). https://doi.org/10.3398/064.076.0102
Received: 8 June 2015; Accepted: 1 November 2015; Published: 1 March 2016
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