Abstract
We reported the first record of Davian behaviour (necrophilia) in the Eurasian badger Meles meles (L., 1758) in northern Italy. A male badger was observed in a camera-trap survey courting and trying to copulate with a probably road-killed female, in February. The dead female was a sexually mature, adult individual; the male was probably a young mature individual. Social behaviour of this carnivore may have evolved to guarantee the access to females only to the dominant male. Usually, female badgers passively receive mating by excited males. This behaviour may have enticed the young male to start courtship and copulation with the road-killed female.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Prof. Sandro Lovari for encouragements and comments on the manuscript. Carlo Paoletti, Valentina Bugelli, Alice Giovani, Elisabetta Palagi, Ivan Norscia, an anonymous reviewer and the Associate Editor Patrick Gouat kindly provided us with useful recommendations regarding an earlier draft of this manuscript.
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