Plant communities of two peat-shrub species – Spiraea salicifolia and Potentilla fruticosa were studied in the Rhodope Mts., with emphasis on their use as a resource for the mammals associated with them. These shrubs are boreal relicts among the dominant coniferous forests. The field surveys were conducted in the spring-autumn period of 2021–2022. In both study areas, the species composition of the mammals was studied by camera traps for medium and large mammals, and by Sherman live traps for small mammals. The species registered were roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), wild boar (Sus scrofa), pine marten (Martes martes), European hare (Lepus europaeus), red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), bank vole (Myodes glareolus) and yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis). Having in mind that small mammals are vital prey base for avian and mammalian predators, it is not surprising that M. glareolus and A. flavicollis individuals were captured in the habitats that they probably use as shelters. The pine marten inhabits the forests by which the community of P. fruticosa is surrounded, but probably feeds on the rodents in the shrub. In this way, it probably provides it with an alternative to the forest food base and hunting ground. From the presented results, it seems that the L. europaeus uses P. fruticosa shrubs as food. Therefore, the plant communities of the two relict peat-shrub species studied probably provide shelter and food for the mammals. Their importance is established for at least one species of mammal with conservation significance at national and European level – M. martes. Therefore, it is necessary to continue and expand the future monitoring on mammal diversity of these relict communities.

Home range size, dispersal and activity of wolves were studied for the first time in Bulgaria using radio-telemetry. In 2005–2009, three wolves (two males and one female), were equipped with VHF collars and radio-tracked in the south-western part of the country, in the Pirin and Maleshevska Mts. The first male (WM1), estimated as 8–9 years old, was tracked for 1.5 months, covering a small area of 10.3 km2 (100% MCP). Home ranges of a female (WF1, 1 y old) and a second male (WM2, 1.5 y old), when resident in their natal packs, were 93.1 km2 and 139.7 km2, respectively, (100% MCP) (mean = 116.4 km2). The core areas (50% KDE) were 35 and 59.9 km2 (mean = 47.5 km2). Both WF1 and WM2 dispersed from their natal packs (mean dispersal distance of 33.1 km) but were killed by humans before settling and reproducing. During dispersal, WF1 was never recorded crossing main roads or other urbanised areas. In contrast, WM2 crossed the non-fenced international road E79 and the railway through the Kresna Gorge, at least 11 times. WF1 and WM2 were active in 45.1% and 44.9% (mean = 45%) of the time recorded, with pronounced crepuscular patterns. The results of the present work are a contribution to the study of the wolf population spatial ecology in Bulgaria and can serve for the better management of the species and its long-term conservation.

Exploratory behaviour in animals is considered a driver of dispersal propensity, which might result in colonisation of new environments and population range expansion in the long term. To find out whether the patterns of exploratory behaviour and risk-taking in the slow worm, Anguis fragilis (L., 1758) differ from that of the eastern slow worm, A. colchica (Nordmann, 1840), the behaviour of nine A. fragilis and seven A. colchica individuals was tested. Escape latency at capture and response to a novel environment and a new object in captivity were assessed. Slow worms of A. fragilis were more exploratory than A. colchica but no difference in risk-taking between the two species was found. Probably the higher exploratory activity of A. fragilis, compared to A. colchica, could be connected to its wider vertical distribution and greater diversity of habitat occupancy.

Assessing the well-being of captive brown bears is essential for responsible species management and meeting European and national animal care standards outside their natural habitats. The present study aims to assess the welfare of captive brown bears in Bulgaria, considering environmental parameters, husbandry procedures, and the psychological and physical condition of the animals. The study was conducted on 28 brown bears in 11 zoos in Bulgaria and 19 bears in Bear Sanctuary Belitsa. A specific questionnaire and interviews were conducted with zoo managers and keepers. The welfare of the bears was evaluated based on their living conditions, husbandry, and physical and psychological well-being. The Nature and Animal Protection Center in Dobrich received the highest rating for the welfare of two brown bears among the zoos in the study. The study identified annual veterinary check-ups and enrichment programmes as areas needing improvement.

Caves in Bulgaria have been studied primarily for their bat fauna, and the occurrence of other mammals in subterranean environments has remained largely unsynthesised. Here we compile and analyse records of non-volant mammals obtained during cave surveys and bat-monitoring activities conducted between 1993 and 2026. The dataset comprises 214 records of 14 taxa from 29 caves, based on direct observations, pitfall trapping, camera trapping, tracks and scats. Most records originate from the entrance and twilight zones, whereas deeper cave sectors were only rarely used. The assemblage is dominated by facultative cave visitors: two species Glis glis (Linnaeus, 1766) and Martes foina (Erxleben, 1777), both of which were classified as common, while most taxa were rare or accidental. Visiting caves for shelters and roosting by Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica (Bolkay, 1925) is a rarely documented phenomenon. Data from camera traps in a small cave in the Rhodope Mountains indicate that different chamois individuals frequently visit underground cavities, using them as shelter and resting sites. Pitfall data indicate strong seasonality in small-mammal detections, with captures concentrated in the warmer months and very limited winter representation, whereas winter surveys more frequently revealed the presence of medium and large mammals. Several records, including direct observations and feeding evidence, indicate opportunistic predation on bats by carnivores. These results show that the contemporary diversity of non-chiropteran mammals using Bulgarian caves has been underestimated. The concentration of records in ecotonal cave zones indicates consistent spatial overlap with bat roosts, highlighting the need to consider the broader mammalian assemblage in cave conservation and assessments of zoonotic risk in subterranean ecosystems.