Abstract
Sett characteristics and utilization patterns by badgers Meles meles were investigated in a central European mountainous area. Two study areas located at the foothill and on the mountain top respectively were compared. Data on diurnal resting sites were provided by locating daily eight radio-collared badgers in the lowland area and three radio-tagged individuals in the mountain area. In both areas, main setts were preferentially located in the forest, and badgers avoided open habitat for their outlier setts. Distance to nearest house was not different for lowland and mountain main and outlier setts. Badgers used a mean of 6 (′ 1.7) and 4.1 (′ 2.4) different setts in the mountain and in the plain, respectively. Seasonal variation in sett use was observed in both areas. For instance, mountain badgers rested predominantly in outlier setts during summer. The number of consecutive days badgers used a same resting site before moving to another one was lower in summer than in other seasons.
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