Spatiotemporal Overlap and Scent-Marking Behaviour of the European Badger and the Stone Marten in a Mediterranean Landscape.

To investigate how Meles meles and Martes foina share a relatively restricted and heterogeneous Mediterranean environment, we analyzed space use, temporal patterns, and chemical communication of the two mesocarnivores in the WWF "Calanchi di Atri" Regional Nature Reserve (Abruzzo, Italy) over a period of 12 months (August 2022-July 2023), using ten infrared camera traps along fixed transects. For each record, date, time, GPS location, and scent-marking behaviour were annotated. A total of 765 records were documented, of which 595 and 170 referred to M. meles and M. foina, respectively. Spatial analyses revealed similar patterns of territorial use by the two species, while temporal patterns differed slightly. The detection rate of M. meles peaked in central night-time hours, while M. foina extended into crepuscular periods. Scent-marking was more frequent and ritualized in M. meles, peaking in winter and spring, whereas M. foina exhibited opportunistic marking. These differences in temporal patterns and communication behaviours may thus contribute to reducing potential interactions between the two mesocarnivores in a shared, fragmented Mediterranean habitat.