Feeding Specialization of the European Badger Meles meles in Scotland

SUMMARY (1) The food of European badgers Meles meles L. is described from six areas in Scotland, using faecal analysis. The estimated relative volume of various foods in the diet is compared with the frequency of their occurrence. Variation between areas and differences between seasons are related to food availability, and the food diversity and variance of different foods with time are presented. (2) The dominant food everywhere was earthworms, Lumbricus terrestris L. and L. rubellus Hoffmeister but their importance in the diet varied little in time and between areas, and there was no correlation with availability. Other less important foods included rabbits, cereals, insects and tubers, and several minor food categories; they were consumed relative to availability in those cases where this availability could be measured. (3) It is suggested that badgers change their foraging effort to compensate for fluctuations in earthworm availability, consuming a range of secondary foods