Abstract
European badgers (Meles meles) represent an ideal model for studies on conflict resolution between pest control and conservation management. From the farmers' perspective, badgers are considered agricultural pests, mainly owing to crop damages. From a veterinary and public health point of view, they are implicated in disease spread to livestock and humans. Nevertheless, at the same time, the European badger operates as an ecosystem engineer by creating new microhabitats. The scope of the present study is to evaluate the role, behavior, and public health importance of the European badger in an intensive agricultural area, in Galatas, western Greece. We used camera traps to collect ecological and behavioral data in correlation to seasonal occurrence of badgers. Furthermore, we collected badger feces samples to investigate any potential parasite load using both microscopic and molecular analyses. Lastly, we assessed farmers' opinions regarding the occurrence of this animal on their properties, as well as any imputed damage. Interestingly, farmers' opinion was in line with camera observations. Parasitological and molecular analyses revealed the presence of four parasites in badger feces, namely Strongyloides procyonis, Ancylostoma caninum and Perostrongylus falciformis, and a member of the family Strongyloididae. Overall, our results demonstrate the controversial role of Meles meles as an ecosystem engineer and a pest simultaneously, highlighting the value of effective monitoring preceding any control practice.