Use of a dorsal radio-transmitter implant in American Badgers, Taxidea taxus

Abstract

We investigated the use of a dorsally implanted radio-transmitter in four American Badgers (Taxidea taxus) in southwestern Saskatchewan. The dorsal radio-transmitter did not appear to affect the health or behaviour of the animals. When the antenna was stretched out subcutaneously along the animal's back, the signal could be received from about 1 km away when the animal was above ground and from 750 m away when it was in the den. The dorsal implantation of radio-transmitters is a promising technique for the study of the movements of American Badgers.