European badger's mating activities associated with moon phase

Illumination at night is determined by moon phase, naturally affecting the reproductive activities of nocturnal animals. The European badger ( Meles meles Linnaeus, 1758) is a large-sized mustelid that lives throughout Bulgaria. Since information on its reproductive activity is scarce for the country, a two-year camera trap survey was conducted at five main setts. It aimed to establish the mating period of the badger, as well as some behavioral activities of the observed individuals in a semi-mountainous area in Central Bulgaria (Sarnena Sredna gora Mts). In the present study, badger mating behavior was only observed in winter. Winter is the main breeding period for badgers from Central Bulgaria, which corresponds to greater activity in front of the setts. Darker lunar phases (i.e., new moon) significantly increased the badger's reproductive activities at their setts. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanism responsible for the nocturnality and preferences to darkness of reproductive badgers.