Spatial distribution of badger (Meles meles) setts and fox (Vulpes vulpes) dens in relation to human impact and environmental availability

The aim of this paper was to examine spatial distribution of badger setts (N = 20) and fox dens (N = 42) in relation to habitat availability (estimated on the basis of 100 random points) and human impact on their environment (settlements, sylviculture practice). Badgers displayed a tendency to locate their setts close to habitats of moderate fertility, but avoided poor and young Scotch pine monocultures created by humans (<50 years old). Generally, foxes did not show any preference as to location of their dens, but they settled significantly closer (within 31–1486 m, median 497 m) to human settlements than badgers did (403–1841 m, median 675 m). Also, distances to open areas were different for both species, but not significantly. In comparison to foxes (2%), badgers more frequently (30%) settled in Strictly Protected Areas where human activity in sylviculture had not been as intensive as in surrounding areas for many years. It allows confirming that disturbances in forest ecosystems caused by human sylviculture (especially cultivation of young coniferous monoculture) influence the spatial distribution of badger setts to some degree. It can also be concluded that foxes are less anthropophobic than badgers in the Kampinos Forest.