# Ecosystem Engineer or Health Threat? Seasonal Occurrence, Farmers’ Perception and Zoonotic Parasite Load of the European Badger

## TL;DR

The study explores how European badgers act as both ecosystem engineers and pests in agricultural areas of Greece, based on camera data, fecal parasite analysis, and farmer opinions.

## Contribution

The study combines ecological monitoring, parasite detection, and stakeholder input to assess the dual role of European badgers in a specific agricultural region.

## Key findings

- Camera traps showed seasonal activity patterns of badgers aligning with farmers' observations.
- Fecal analysis identified four zoonotic parasites in badger populations.
- Farmers reported crop damage consistent with badger presence and behavior.

## Abstract

European badgers (Meles meles) represent an ideal model for studies on conflict resolution between pest control and conservation management. From the farmers’ perspective, badgers are considered agricultural pests, mainly owing to crop damages. From a veterinary and public health point of view, they are implicated in disease spread to livestock and humans. Nevertheless, at the same time, the European badger operates as an ecosystem engineer by creating new microhabitats and is protected by the Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats. The scope of the present study is to evaluate the role, behavior, and public health importance of the European badger in an intensive agricultural area, in Galatas, western Greece. We used camera traps to collect ecological and behavioral data in correlation to seasonal occurrence of badgers. Furthermore, we collected badger feces samples to investigate any potential parasite load using different techniques. Lastly, assessing farmers’ opinions regarding the occurrence of the animal on their properties and the imputed damages, we found that they were in line with camera observations. Parasitological and molecular analyses revealed the presence of four parasites and generally, our results demonstrate the controversial role of Meles meles as an ecosystem engineer and a pest simultaneously, highlighting the value of effective monitoring preceding any control practice.

European badgers (Meles meles) represent an ideal model for studies on conflict resolution between pest control and conservation management. From the farmers’ perspective, badgers are considered agricultural pests, mainly owing to crop damages. From a veterinary and public health point of view, they are implicated in disease spread to livestock and humans. Nevertheless, at the same time, the European badger operates as an ecosystem engineer by creating new microhabitats. The scope of the present study is to evaluate the role, behavior, and public health importance of the European badger in an intensive agricultural area, in Galatas, western Greece. We used camera traps to collect ecological and behavioral data in correlation to seasonal occurrence of badgers. Furthermore, we collected badger feces samples to investigate any potential parasite load using both microscopic and molecular analyses. Lastly, we assessed farmers’ opinions regarding the occurrence of this animal on their properties, as well as any imputed damage. Interestingly, farmers’ opinion was in line with camera observations. Parasitological and molecular analyses revealed the presence of four parasites in badger feces, namely Strongyloides procyonis, Ancylostoma caninum and Perostrongylus falciformis, and a member of the family Strongyloididae. Overall, our results demonstrate the controversial role of Meles meles as an ecosystem engineer and a pest simultaneously, highlighting the value of effective monitoring preceding any control practice.