Ecology of European Badger Meles Meles in the Western Capathian Mountains: A Review

Abstract

European badgers inhabiting Western Carpathians use excavated setts (53%), caves and rock crevices (43%), and burrows under human-made constructions (4%) as permanent shelters. Excavated setts are located up to 640 m a.s.l., but shelters in caves and crevices until 1,050 m a.s.l. Badger setts are mostly located in forests on slopes with southern, eastern and western exposure. Within their territories, ranging from 3.35 to 8.45 km2 (MCP100%), badgers possess 1-12 setts. Family groups are small (mean 2.3 individuals), as is population density (2.2 ind./10 km2) and reproduction (0.57 young/year/10 km2). Hunting by humans is the most important mortality factor (0.37 ind./year/10 km2). Regardless the altitude at which their main sett is located, badgers forage mostly in foothills, as this climatic zone offers the richest food sources. Badgers eat mainly fruits (54%) and earthworms (38%), but seasonal and altitudinal differences in diet were observed.