The diet of the European badger in a Mediterranean coastal area

Abstract

The food of European badgers Meles meles Linnaeus, 1758 in a dry Mediterranean coastal habitat in central Italy was determined by faecal analysis. Between February 1983 and November 1985 badgers fed primarily on fruits and insects, which made up a combined volume of about 90% of the total amount of food eaten each year. Insects and fruits were exploited alternately, the former mainly during winter and spring whereas the latter mainly during summer and autumn. A significant change in this pattern was found in autumn 1985 when the occurrence of insects was higher and that of fruits was lower, respectively, than in the previous years. Other less important food resources included myriapods, molluscs, birds and mammals. Earthworms did not play an important role in the diet in any period of the year. It is suggested that badgers might adjust to their seasonally fluctuating foods by changing their food choice so as to maximize their intake from the available resources.