Abstract: Understanding population status and habitat distribution is a fundamental aspect in biodiversity conservation. Laoyeling Mountains is considered a biodiversity hotspot in Heilongjiang Province. To determine the population status and habitat suitability of badgers (Meles meles) in this area, we collected photo, burrow, and footprint data by conducting large-plot surveys during the snow cover season, as well as camera trapping from 2021 to 2022. We analyzed population density, population size, and distribution within and outside the protected areas. Then, we evaluated the habitat suitability for this species based on occurrence datasets using maximum entropy (MaxEnt) modeling. The overall population density of badgers was 0.37±0.03 individuals·km^-2. Population densities were higher in protected areas, with 0.64±0.05 individuals·km^-2 in Laoyeling Amur Tiger National Nature Reserve and 0.42±0.03 individuals·km^-2 in Muling Japanese Yew National Nature Reserve, compared with a density of 0.23±0.02 individuals·km^-2 in the forest areas of Hanconghe and Liuqiaogou outside the reserves. The total population size was 1263-1483 individuals. The main environmental variables, including forest trails (30.9%), residential areas (21.5%), evergreen coniferous forests (10.7%), croplands (10.3%), rivers (6.1%), and grasslands (5.4%), had significant effects on the habitat suitability of badgers. The area of suitable habitat for M. meles was 395.06 km², accounting for 10.5% of the total area. 32.7% of the suitable habitats of the badger were within nature conservation network. A total of 265.82 km² suitable area need to be protected. To summarize, human disturbance had a considerable effect on habitat suitability of M. meles, mainly outside the reserves. Therefore, it is recommended to inhibit human activities such as poaching and resource harvesting in Taipingchuan, Wanbaowan, and Shuangning forest areas outside the reserves, and to strengthen the protection of the Nuanquan River, Zhongguliu, and Heping forest areas in the reserves.

Key words: badger (Meles meles), population status, habitat suitability, MaxEnt model