The Number and Habitat Use of Mesopredators Based on the Camera Trapping and Location of Burrows in Hungary

TL;DR

This study estimates mesopredator populations and habitat preferences in Hungary using camera traps and burrow counts to aid wildlife management.

Contribution

The study provides new population estimates and habitat use data for European badgers, red foxes, and golden jackals in Hungary.

Findings

In Drávaszentes, badger burrow density was 1.05/100 ha with an average litter size of 1.13 cubs.

In Darány, badger density was 1.43/100 ha, and jackals were present at 0.2/100 ha.

Mesopredators showed habitat preferences for non-irrigated arable land and mixed forests.

Abstract

The increasing population of mesopredators in Central Europe necessitates precise monitoring for effective game management. This study aimed to estimate the minimum population and reproduction of the European badger (Meles meles), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and golden jackal (Canis aureus) in two hunting grounds in southwestern Hungary (Drávaszentes and Darány). Methods included a total burrow count conducted in early 2025, followed by the deployment of wildlife cameras at inhabited setts to record adults and cubs. Results indicated an inhabited burrow density of 1.05/100 ha for badgers and 0.38/100 ha for foxes in Drávaszentes, with average litter sizes of 1.13 and 2.33 cubs, respectively. In Darány, badger density was 1.43/100 ha, while jackals were present at 0.2/100 ha. Additionally, habitat composition preference was analysed using QGIS by comparing Corine Land Cover categories within 400 m buffers around burrows against random points. Habitat analysis suggested local preferences for non-irrigated arable land and mixed forests. These findings provide essential baseline data on predator population dynamics to support conscious management decisions.

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