Tracking the energetics of wild animals

In Britain and Ireland, bovine tuberculosis (bTB) poses significant risks to animal health and farm productivity yet, despite significant eradication efforts, the disease remains endemic in many areas. As the European badger (Meles meles) is believed to be the main wildlife reservoir for bTB, efforts to reduce disease transmission to livestock have included the vaccination and culling of badgers.

Badger culling is a contentious issue, not only due to public opinion regarding ethics, but also because the outcomes of such intervention often appear to be complex and contradictory. For example, culling badgers can increase bTB in badgers and cattle in surrounding areas. Studies of badger movement have traditionally relied upon Global Position System (GPS) data.