Application of a methodology foe the exhaustive census of badger, Meles meles, setts, in the strict nature reserve of Bosco Nordio (Chioggia, province of Venice, NE Italy) (Carnivora: Mustelidae)

Aim of this work is the elaboration of an efficient procedure for the detection and the census of European badger Meles meles setts in the Strict Nature Reserve of Bosco Nordio. Badger burrows are easily detectable for the stockpile of material and the presence of footprints and latrines, but an exhaustive census can be a difficult task, depending on land and vegetation conditions. Every lack of coverage of land patches can lead to misleading evaluations and wrong conclusions. To cover the whole area of the Reserve and minimizing the possibilities of error, we used a free smartphone application (Endomondo Sport Tracker), developed for sport activity, which allows you to view the itinerary as a line on a satellite image of the territory. The research protocol consisted in searching and spotting digging signs (piled up materials, galleries), signs of presence (latrines, footprints) or signs of passage. Using the application made the research more efficient and quicker, allowing to diverge from the survey path (to follow an animal track) and coming back with confidence, without missing any survey area. Every gallery or other signs of badger presence were marked with GPS coordinates, and the characteristics of the point were registered in a specific data sheet, then a camera trap was set up to control the passages. Nowadays different free GPS tracking applications for smartphones are available. Their use can help to rapidly and efficiently carry out total counts, without more expensive and technologically advanced equipment.