Use of human buildings by Eurasian badgers in the Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mountains, Czech Republic

Abstract

An inspection of human buildings used by Eurasian badgersMeles meles (Linnaeus, 1758) in 28 sites in the Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mountains, Czech Republic, was carried out in 2001. The buildings inhabited or visited by badgers were as follows: wooden barns (18 cases), masonry buildings used for residential purposes (4), abandoned buildings (1), wooden sheds (2), wooden beehouses (2) and a non-residential part of a house (1). In three sites, female badgers with their cubs inhabited buildings. Badgers use the buildings more frequently in winter than in summer. Use of human buildings and the occurrence of badgers in setts in the wild in these mountains was observed in detail on a study area of 950 ha around the village of Lubno. In total, 12 setts were discovered. Eight of them were in the wild: two setts were located closer than 50 m, five between 100 m and 300 m, and one 700 m from human buildings. In four sites badgers inhabited human buildings.