§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her Answer of 11 December 2003,Official Report, column 539W, what the detailed protocol was for the wildlife survey undertaken as part of the Krebs trials; and whether landowner participation was invited for the specific surveys carried out in pursuance of this survey. [150569]
548W
§ Mr. BradshawSurvey techniques employed on this project to assess abundance of wildlife include spotlight surveys of hedgehogs, foxes, rabbits and brown hares and count surveys of ground-nesting birds. Radiotelemetry is also used to study the behaviour and mortality of hedgehogs, and video and still camera surveillance to monitor predation of birds' nests. Fox diet has been investigated through the collection of faecal samples. Detailed protocols of these techniques will be documented in scientific publications which are currently in preparation. All landowners were contacted to request their permission for access to land before surveys were carried out.