Badger observation (May 5, 2024) – a larger group in our area?

On May 5, at around 5 am in the morning, we came across a badger strolling down a road in the private garden allotment area. I have seen/heard badgers there before and I have an approximate inkling where their sett is located although there might be more than one sett (e.g., a main sett and …

European badger lifestyle – social *and* solitary

In many respects, this post follows the previous contemplation on the importance of solitary foraging in the formation and regulation of badger social groups (and territories) - Regarding European badger social organization (the importance of solitary foraging). However, I wished to add a few other aspects that might explain how badgers perceive their own lifestyle (what …

Regarding European badger social organization (the importance of solitary foraging)

Recently I had the opportunity to read Hans Kruuk's 'The Social Badger: Ecology and Behaviour of a Group-living Carnivore' (1989). It made me wonder some more about the badger social organization and its dependence on resource distribution and local resource abundance. I am familiar with the resource dispersion hypothesis but as far as I understand, …

The mystery of the origins of badger social life

European badgers have been confusing scientists with their flexible and geographically variable lifestyle. In United Kingdom and Ireland badgers appear to form social groups while in the continental Europe badgers mainly seem to lead a solitary lifestyle (similar to most mustelids) or pair up to raise cubs together. It is not entirely clear, either, what …

Possible reasons behind individual foraging specialization in European badgers

Recently I read the publication, 'Individual foraging specialization in a social mammal: The European badger (Meles meles)' by Robertson, A. et al., 2014. In this study, the highly social British badgers were analyzed respective to the foraging specialization level by individuals (i.e., whether individuals tend to use resources differently than the rest of their group …

Badger popularity by other species – due to beneficial microbiota?

I have been reading on badger interactions with other species (such as foxes, racoon dogs, golden jackals etc.) and these interactions often involve commensal denning (other species utilizing abandoned badger setts or unused chambers of occupied badger setts) and feeding on the same site and at the same time. Badger setts are used, for example, …