Spatial distribution of badger (Meles meles) setts and fox (Vulpes vulpes) dens in relation to human impact and environmental availability

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to examine spatial distribution of badger setts (N = 20) and fox dens (N = 42) in relation to habitat availability (estimated on the basis of 100 random points) and human impact on their environment (settlements, sylviculture practice). Badgers displayed a tendency to locate their setts close to habitats of moderate fertility, but avoided poor and young Scotch pine monocultures created by humans (<50 years old). Generally, foxes did not show any preference as to location of their dens, but they settled significantly closer (within 31-1486 m, median 497 m) to human settlements than badgers did (403-1841 m, median 675 m). Also, distances to open areas were different for both species, but not significantly. In comparison to foxes (2%), badgers more frequently (30%) settled in Strictly Protected Areas where human activity in sylviculture had not been as intensive as in surrounding areas for many years. It allows confirming that disturbances in forest ecosystems caused by human sylviculture (especially cultivation of young coniferous monoculture) influence the spatial distribution of badger setts to some degree. It can also be concluded that foxes are less anthropophobic than badgers in the Kampinos Forest.

Topsoil mixing or fertilization? Forest flora changes in the vicinity of badgers’ (Meles meles L.) setts and latrines

“…Badgers' burrows and latrines were surveyed over the whole forest area during years 2009-2011. The burrows were identified as being inhabited by badgers by tracks, evidence of burrow-cleaning methods, paths, and direct observations of animals (Kowalczyk et al 2000;Panek and Bresiński 2002;Kurek 2011). Only breeding sites (well-developed setts covering up to 0.1 ha used for several, in some cases even for 40 years personal observations of forest staff) were taken into account in this study.…”

Burrowing by badgers (Meles meles) and foxes (Vulpes vulpes) changes soil conditions and vegetation in a European temperate forest

“…This makes mixed oak-pine forests a better alternative than poor pine monocultures for badgers-badgers establishing setts there will save time on foraging activity and/or be better nourished. The fox Table 1 Results of split-plot ANOVA on the differences in vegetation parameters between fox and badger sites (the effect of species), and between burrow and control plots (the effect of disturbance diet also includes invertebrates but they feed mainly on voles and other small mammals (Goszczyn´ski 1986;Kidawa and Kowalczyk 2011), so the fertility of the forest surrounding their burrows is not as important for them as the distance to open areas, where voles tend to occur in great numbers (Kidawa and Kowalczyk 2011;Kurek 2011). Species requirements for soil structural properties are another possible explanation for the habitat differences between badger and fox sites.…”

Ecological factors influencing the selection of sett location by the Asian badger Meles leucurus

“…Badgers stay away from areas close to human activities (Kurek 2011, Tammeleht and Kuuspu 2017) and anthropogenic disturbances (Jenkinson and Wheater 1998). In our study, the negative effects of human habitation and disturbance on sett location was associated with avoidance in low altitudinal areas.…”