EUROPEAN BADGER (MELES MELES LINNAEUS, 1758) PREFERENCES TO THE TERRAIN EXPOSURE FOR DIGGING DENS IN SOUTHEASTERN BULGARIA

Abstract

A total of 47 active badger burrows in the Southeastern Bulgaria were described in order to find whether there are preferences to terrain exposure for its digging activity. The most of the dens were found on terrain with south exposure - 23.4%, followed by these on the east and west side -19.15% each. The dens faced to these three directions, together with these to intercardinal directions connected with south, represented 80.85% of the active badger dens found. A tendency in the preference of the European badger to the southern exposure of the terrain for its digging activity in the region of Southeastern Bulgaria was established.

Keywords

• south
• cardinal directions
• burrow