Human interest Local Studies continue on endangered badgers
Studies continue on endangered badgers
| Human interest |
By Bev Boyle
In 2007, the Cariboo Badger Project partnered with Ministry of Transportation to investigate the relationship between badgers and roads. Roadkill has been identified as a leading cause of mortality for badgers in BC. Research will focus on tracking badgers detailed movements to determine where and when badgers cross roads. This information will be used in designing new highways and upgrading existing ones. Options include; installing dry culverts, drift fences, permeable concrete roadside barriers, and signage. This is the first intensive radio-telemetry study to address road mortality ever conducted in Canada.
(Photo by Richard Klafki.)
Thompson Rivers University graduate student, Richard Klafki, who holds a prestigious graduate scholarship from Canada's premier science and engineering granting agency, NSERC, has been working in partnership with Ministry of Environment local (100 Mile House) biologist, Roger Packham, on Ministry of Transportation-funded research to contribute to the recovery of self-sustaining populations of the badger subspecies jeffersonii, a mid-size carnivore currently considered endangered, with less than 300 surviving in Canada: all in British Columbia.
Richard says, “Fortunately, recovery of badgers in BC is believed to be ecologically and technically feasible if these impacts can be reduced. Realizing that road mortality in the Cariboo region could threaten badgers, as it has elsewhere in the province, the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has provided funding to Thompson Rivers University to study the interaction between badgers and roads in the Cariboo. “
Badgers live in the grasslands and dry forests here in BC. They are related to wolverines and otters. Badgers are important to our eco-system as they are predators of pocket gophers, marmots and ground squirrels and they keep numbers of these in check. The badgers around 100 Mile House are being decimated by roadkill.
(Photo by Richard Klafki.)
Richard explains, “There has now been 26 mortalities from roads in the Cariboo since 2003 and we had a record 8 roadkills this year (May-Sept) between 93 Mile and 150 Mile.” He adds, “"The area around 100 Mile House has the last relatively abundant population of badgers in the province."
Richard Klafki grew up in the town of Golden in southeastern BC. He was raised on a small cattle ranch for the early part of his youth, where he spent much of his time exploring in the woods. These early experiences led to his future enjoyment of the outdoors and wildlife while growing up in Golden.
In 2001, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology from the University of Northern BC in Prince George.
Richard has been involved with many specific wildlife ecology projects, including studies of wolverines in BC and Ontario, northern goshawks and badgers in southern BC, and fishers in northern BC.
In 2007, Richard enrolled in the Environmental Science Master’s program at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. Richard is working under the supervision of Dr Karl Larsen, Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Management at TRU.
The current population estimate of badgers in BC is 230–340 individuals. Fortunately, recovery of badgers in BC is believed to be ecologically and technically feasible if negative ecological impacts can be reduced. Realizing that road mortality in the Cariboo region could threaten badgers, as it has elsewhere in the province, the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has provided funding to study the interaction between badgers and roads in the Cariboo. Specifically, Richard’s work is focusing on trying to identify why roadkill has become major mortality factor for these endangered mid-sized carnivores in BC.
Klafki has also been working in partnership with local (100 Mile House) Ministry of Environment biologist, Roger Packham, on research to contribute to the recovery of self-sustaining populations of badgers in BC.
The majority of field work has been conducted and Richard is now in the writing phase of his Master’s thesis in Kamloops.
You can help! Sightings of badgers are instrumental in identifying areas where the species still occurs. Also, road-killed badgers provide vital information; dead badgers need to be retreived as soon as possible after they have been struck.
If you have recently seen a badger, fresh burrows, or a dead badger, please call:
Ministry of Environment at 250-395-7853 or Richard Klafki at 250-344-1002 or 1-888-223-4376 toll-free elsewhere in BC.
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
For more information on badgers, please visit:
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