The status of the Badger Meles meles (L., 1758) (Carnivora, Mustelidae) in Europe

ABSTRACT The Eurasian Badger occurs throughout the Palaearctic, and in all states of Europe west of the border with the former Soviet Union. Within this area it is absent only from the arctic zones, high‐altitude areas, and some islands. The Badger is currently a protected species in the UK, the Irish Republic, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Albania, Greece, Estonia, Luxembourg and Hungary, but Luxembourg and Hungary are to reconsider protected status. Elsewhere, the species is either considered as small‐game or as a pest, hunting being regulated by closed seasons. At present Finland and Burgenland (Austria) afford protection to breeding females, whilst Bulgaria, Macedonia and the Austrian Bundesländer of Steiermark and Salzburg permit Badger hunting throughout the year. Where the species is protected, provisions usually exist for the removal or culling of ‘pest’ individuals. The official European game‐bag currently totals about 118,000 Badgers, but poaching is common, particularly in the UK and Ireland. Published population estimates, coupled with national population minima obtained by extrapolation from game‐bag statistics, indicate a minimum European Badger population of 1,220,000; the true figure may exceed this considerably. Badger populations appear to be either stable or increasing throughout much of Europe, although no data are currently available for the populations of Greece, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Bosnia‐Hercegovina and Portugal. Badgers are uncommon in the Netherlands, Estonia, Belgium, the Slovak Republic, and possibly Poland. Only the populations of Albania and possibly of some parts of the former Yugoslavia appear to be decreasing. The Dutch population remains at considerable risk, despite modest recent increases. The population status of the endemic sub‐species of Crete and Rhodes remain uncertain and require urgent clarification. A series of management recommendations are proposed to improve the status of the Badger in Europe.