This is an open question to any and all badger experts out there. Can badgers see infra-red?
I’ve used my night vision scope twice now (see Fieldnotes: 25th July 2009 – First night vision session and Fieldnotes: 6th March 2010 – A frosty night at the badger sett). On both occasions the badgers have been visibly spooked, presumably by the infra-red light. Of course, this is purely anecdotal evidence – I haven’t done any sort of scientific study – but I’ve spent enough hours watching badgers to know when one is disturbed by something, and all the ones I’ve seen through the night vision scope have indeed been disturbed.
Of course, it might not necessarily be the infra-red. The night vision scope (it’s a Bresser, by the way) may be doing something else to frighten the badgers. It may make a noise that is inaudible to us but audible to badgers, for instance. I don’t know.
So, has anyone had experience of using a night vision scope to watch badgers, particularly with an infra-red torch? Did you notice any signs that the badgers were aware of it? Does anyone know of any research or literature on the subject? Does anyone know if any other animals can see in the infra-red end of the spectrum?
If you have any ideas or experiences, please do let me know. I’ll keep searching myself and let you know if I find anything.
Thanks
BWM
My money is on the noise the apparatus is making. I know that some of these things make a high pitched noise. Try it on a friendly dog. I won’t be able to try myself until I get mine in a couple of weeks.
I’m not sure if mammals ‘see’ infra red – but of course some reptiles detect areas of heat and cold. Some now say birds of prey can detect heat source of urine trails from rabbits and rodents.
No definitive answer from me I’m afraid.
Thanks Pablo. I have heard of animals being deterred by the high-pitched whine of electronic equipment. This is one of the reasons often given for why Bigfoot has never been photographed by an automatic trail camera (the other plausible reason – that they don’t exist – is rarely considered by the Bigfoot research fraternity).
Lacking a friendly dog, I tried testing the scope on my cat, with predictable results. She totally ignored it, but then she totally ignores everything, so I can’t claim this to be a wholly conclusive results.
Nevertheless, there is some evidence from other people that badgers react to night vision devices. I’ll post this up on here separately.