UPDATE: Alumnus Daraleigh, graduate of the Bachelor of Natural Resources Science program says:
It should be clarified that for this subspecies of badgers – i.e. Taxidea taxus jeffersoni – all of the individuals occur in British Columbia. Badgers do occur beyond BC in Canada and there are two other subspecies in Canada. One of these two subspcies is the endangered Taxidea taxus jacksoni – whose habitat extents into southwestern ontario.
Why did the badgers cross the road?
Endangered taxidea taxus jeffersoni. There are 300 of these badgers surviving in Canada; all in BC.
And how can they do it safely? These are the questions that Richard Klafki, a TRU MSc student and member of the National Badger Recovery Team, is examining as part of a study funded by BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
Badgers, a mid-size carnivore, (Taxideataxus jeffersoni) are endangered both provincially and federally. All 300 of Canada’s surviving badgers live in BC. And although the population is relatively abundant in 100 Mile House, road mortality threatens the species here, as it has elsewhere in the province.
Klafki’s tools include conventional radio-telemetry, GPS data loggers and remote motion cameras. He is also using VHF radio-telemetry for the first time in North America. With detailed information on the badger’s movements including travel corridors, the National Badger Recovery Team will identify badger habitat requirements and core use areas. Ultimately Klafki will present his findings to develop engineering solutions like drift fences and dry culverts to minimize road kill.
For more information see www.badgers.bc.ca
