Distribution of badger setts and latrines in an intensively cultivated landscape

Abstract

We made a survey of badger Meles meles setts and latrines in a Swiss agricultural area where food resources are over-abundant and suitable den sites potentially rare. Indeed, badger main sett density was the lower ever recorded (0.07/km 2 ). Setts were located in small remaining woodlands or in the forested slopes surrounding the cultivated area. We discovered 67 latrines, which could be differentiated into two categories: 1) major latrines used for more than 4 months, 2) minor latrines used for only 1 to 4 months. Major latrines, which are generally considered as territorial marks, were located closer to the main setts than the minor ones. This distribution suggests that badger territorial boundaries are not well defined in this cultivated area.