Effect of competition and landscape characteristics on mesocarnivore cohabitation in badger setts

Abstract

AbstractMesocarnivores are becoming increasingly influential in ecosystems due to the ongoing loss of large carnivores. However, interactions within mesocarnivore communities remain poorly understood. We studied how competitive coexistence influences cohabitation of badgers (Meles meles) with other European mesocarnivores, and badger habitat selection at sett site and sett environ scales (within a 700 m radius buffer). We used data on the location and use of 234 badger setts in a 39 000 km2 area of mainland Estonia (Northern Europe) to assess the importance of sett occupancy by badgers, the regional abundance of other mesocarnivores (fox/raccoon dog), bedrock complex and landscape in explaining the presence of other mesocarnivores at badger setts. We also compared data from observed setts and random locations to study sett site selection. Setts where foxes or raccoon dogs were present had a lower proportion of active badger entrances and were more likely to be found in forests of agricultural areas, compared with setts where these species were absent. Sett locations tended to occur more frequently in older meso‐ and eutrophic forests on sandy soils. Badgers tended to avoid human infrastructure at sett locations and in the sett environ when selecting sett locations. Our results reveal the influence of habitat fragmentation and competitive relationships on cohabitation between terrestrial carnivores.