Characteristics, location and selection of diurnal resting dens by Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) in a low density area

We describe diurnal resting dens (setts) used by Eurasian badgers Meles mel es L. in Coto del Rey, Do (n) over tilde ana National Park, south-western S pain, and analyse the factors that determine sett location and selection in relation to territory outlines, soil type and vegetation structure. Setts were located by tracking radio-tagged badgers daily. Badger setts were main ly underground burrow systems with, on average, 2.6 badger entrances. Frequ ently, badgers constructed setts by enlarging existing rabbit warrens. Sett s were located almost everywhere, but badgers preferred easily dug, well-dr ained soils with good vegetation cover within foraging habitats. A logistic regression model showed that badgers select sites with high surrounding sh rub density, large shrubs covering the burrow and close to the centre of th e territory (in Mediterranean scrubland habitat). The small size of badger setts in Coto del Rey is common to other low density areas, and probably re lates to the extent of use (i.e. age of the burrows and number of badgers u sing them) of the burrow system. The number of setts per badger territory i s related positively to territory size. The similarity of sett densities be tween this low density population and high density populations, points to a minimum number of setts being required to maximize territory use, and to o ffer easily-available protection. The preservation and improvement of Medit erranean scrubland vegetation, as well as of large and old shrubs, are impo rtant for the future conservation of the badger in Mediterranean landscapes . In these areas, and given the impossibility of distinguishing main setts, the estimation of absolute densities in population surveys using main sett numbers should be avoided in favour of relative indices of abundance.