Lutra 48(1)_van Moll_2005

Distribution of the badger (Meles meles L.) in the Netherlands, changes between 1995 and 2001

In 2000-2001 a national distribution survey of the badger (Meles meles) was undertaken. The survey was to contribute to the interim evaluation of the badger protection plan of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries of the Netherlands. The execution of this protection plan started in 1984. The outcomes of this survey are presented in this article. The following aspects are described: (1) the historic development in the distribution, (2) the occupation rate of suitable badger habitat, (3) the development of settlement types, (4) the merger of subpopulations, (5) the continuity of occupation, (6) the output of translocations, and (7) the number of disappeared setts and the disturbances registered. In addition, a comparison is made with the results from the surveys of 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990 and 1995. The collected data originated mainly from fieldwork. For every 1-km square, the more than incidental use of badger setts was recorded....