SPACING AND ECOLOGY OF NORTH-AMERICAN BADGERS (TAXIDEA-TAXUS) IN A PRAIRIE-DOG (CYNOMYS-LEUCURUS) COMPLEX

We studied spacing, food habits, habitat use, and population character istics of North American badgers (Taxidea taxus) in and around a prair ie-dog (Cynomys leucurus) town in southeastern Wyoming, May 1991-Octob er 1993. Densities of badgers varied from 0.8 to 1.1/km(2). Prairie do gs occurred in 57% of stomach and fecal samples from female badgers, a nd females used prairie dog towns more than expected from spatial avai lability of prairie-dog towns. Ninety-five percent adaptive-kernel hom e ranges of females were smaller than those of males (male (X) over ba r = 12.3 +/- 4.8 km(2) [+/- SD], female (X) over bar = 3.4 +/- 1.4 km( 2)), and occurrence of overlap and geometric mean overlap were less fo r females than for males. Home ranges of males were larger during the breeding season than during the nonbreeding season (breeding (X) over bar = 11.1 +/- 5.0 km(2), nonbreeding (X) over bar = 5.4 +/- 1.7 km(2) ). Breeding home-range size of males was 2.5 times larger than that pr edicted (4.5 km(2)) based on energetic demands. Spacing patterns of ma les were similar to those reported in other studies, but females were more territorial than reported elsewhere.