The ecology of the European badger (Meles meles) in Ireland - a review

The badger is an ecologically and economically important species. Detailed knowledge of aspects of
the ecology of this animal in Ireland has only emerged through research over recent decades. Here,
we review what is known about the species’ Irish populations and compare these findings with
populations in Britain and Europe. Like populations elsewhere, setts are preferentially constructed on
south or southeast facing sloping ground in well-drained soil types. Unlike in Britain, Irish badger
main setts are less complex and most commonly found in hedgerows. Badgers utilise many habitat
types, but greater badger densities have been associated with landscapes with high proportions of
pasture and broadleaf woodlands. Badgers in Ireland tend to have seasonally varied diets, with less
dependence on earthworms than some other populations in northwest Europe. Recent research
suggests that females exhibit later onset and timing of reproductive events, smaller litter sizes and
lower loss of blastocysts than populations studied in Britain. Adult social groups in Ireland tend to be
smaller than in Britain, though significantly larger than social groups from continental Europe.
Although progress has been made in estimating the distribution and density of badger populations,
national population estimates have varied widely in the Republic of Ireland. Future research should
concentrate on filling gaps in our knowledge, including population models and predictive spatial
modelling that will contribute to vaccine delivery, management and conservation strategies.