We studied the diet of the badger through scat analysis and used seven previously described methods to assess their comparability. Methods compared included those based on frequencies of occurrence of different food items and volumetric methods. Our results showed that, depending on the basic methodological procedure, we could classify methods in two groups: frequencies of appearance and volumetric methods. The depiction of the diet obtained is quite similar within these groups but differs between them, as each group depicts different aspects of the trophic ecology of the badger. In conclusion, we advise the use of more than one method when assessing the diets of badgers or other carnivores. The best option is the use of a frequency-based method combined with one or two volumetric methods.
The aim of the present paper was to compare the picture of habitat selection obtained by using 1) different home ranges and core areas and 2) different methods (compositional analysis, Jacobs index and selection ratio), in radio-tracking studies of mammals. The experimental animal was the Eurasian badger Meles meles, radio-tracked in southern Finland in 2006-2007. The total home ranges used in the study, minimum convex polygon (MCP) and 95% fixed kernel home range (K95) differed in size, MCP being larger. Therefore its habitat composition resembled more that of the landscape, and comparison between K95 and the study area revealed better habitat selection within the landscape (second order selection). The proportions of two common habitat types (fields and spruce forests) differed between the core areas used in the study. Comparison between the smallest core area (K50) and MCP revealed best habitat preferences within the home range (third order habitat selection). Comparing the distribution of individual location points in different habitats to the habitat composition of home ranges did not reveal habitat preferences of badgers. The use of compositional analysis together with Jacobs index in habitat selection studies is recommended, because the simple selection ratio was not very sensitive.
The characteristics and density of Eurasian badger Meles meles setts and the factors affecting sett-site choice were studied from February 1999 to January 2000 in the River Po Park (Piedmont region, NW Italy). Badger setts were a complex of underground tunnels with, on average, 6.4 entrances. In hilly habitat badger sett density was higher than in lowlands (1.32 vs. 0.21 setts/km2) as well as the mean number of entrances per sett (11.5 vs. 3.5). These data were similar to those recorded in many other European areas with low badger population density. In our study area, badgers clearly selected tree-cover (woods and shrubs), also tolerating human disturbance. In a widespread plain area, where the original forest vegetation has been dramatically reduced, sett sites were concentrated in residual wood belts along the slopes of alluvial terraces or in scrubs growing on artificial embankments. This study confirms the badger as a highly adaptable species that can exploit different habitats. Nevertheless badger populations living in predominantly agricultural lands depend on habitats offering sufficient cover for their breeding sett location. The improvement of natural vegetation cover is essential for the future conservation of badger populations in Po plain landscapes.