The reproductive cycle of male and female badgers in the south‐west of England was studied by post‐mortem examination of 1875 badgers collected in 1973–80. The sample was obtained by several methods and showed that animals obtained as road casualties were not representative of the total population samples. Active spermatogenesis was present throughout the year, and in some males aged 8–9 months. A few females first ovulated as yearlings but most primiparous females were adults. Births were in general confined to the early part of the year, but ovulations and matings also occurred at other times. Almost all (97%) adult females possessed corpora lutea. Unimplanted blastocysts were found in females for 11 months of the year (over 80% of adult females in July‐November). Implanted embryos were found in only 32% of adults in January and February: the number of blastocysts per female and the number of implanted embryos per female were not significantly different, indicating that sows implanted all blastocysts or none. Foetal mortality was 36% and post‐natal losses were estimated at 42% from the proportion of lactating females.

The feral cat population at a 178-ha dockland site was studied for 18 months by direct observation assisted by radio-tracking. Although food appeared to be abundant and widely distributed, the population density was low (10-15 adults km-2). There were few females in the population (7 of 22 cats of known sex) and little breeding success: only one weaned litter was seen during the entire study. Home range sizes were similar for males and females, and were much smaller (15 * 17 ha and 10*7 ha, respectively) than would be expected from the low density. The cats were mostly solitary rather than group-living, with little contact or social interaction. The implications of the findings for feral cat control are discussed, with particular emphasis on emergency measures for rabies outbreaks.

Forty‐five badgers representing five social groups were removed from an area in Staffordshire where tuberculosis had occurred in cattle. Prior to removal, the tuberculosis status of the badger population was investigated by screening faeces samples, collected at fortnightly intervals, and badger social‐group territories were determined by bait‐marking. Samples for cultural and biological examination were taken from the live badgers before euthanasia and detailed post‐mortem examination. The adult badger population density was 6‐2/km2 and Mycobacterium bovis was isolated from samples taken post mortem from eight (17‐8%) badgers. The results are reviewed in relation to previous findings.

Seven different measurements of fox skulls from animals of known sex were recorded for 571 fox skulls from Wales and South‐East England. A multivariate technique, discriminant function analysis, is used to classify the skulls according to sex and regional origin. Differences detected suggest that male skulls tend to be larger, and that skulls from Wales are larger than those from South‐East England. The classifications are presumed to reflect true differences between sexes and regions.

Unlike most other European capitals much of urban and suburban London is frequented by foxes. For five years, litters of fox cubs were tagged in West London and their dispersal studied. Aerial photographs were examined to aid litter location. Twenty‐five per cent of the litters found were under garden sheds with raised wooden floors. Sixteen per cent of tagged cubs have been recaptured. Mean dispersal distances were 7.9 km for males and 3.1 for females. Most of the observed cub dispersal was away from the centre of London towards rural areas. Immigration from rural areas into the study area was not recorded. Adult fox population density, estimated from the number of litters found, was a minimum of 2.06 foxes per square kilometre. The significance of suburban and urban fox population densities and their dispersal patterns are considered in relation to the epidemiology of wildlife rabies.