The American Badger
A Tough and Talented Digger
The American Badger is a flat, sturdy animal with very strong muscles. They are famous for the white stripe that runs from their nose up over their head. Badgers are very brave and can be quite tough if they feel threatened, but mostly they just want to spend their time digging in the dirt.
RANGE
American Badgers live in the western and central parts of North America. You can find them from southern Canada all the way down into Mexico. They love wide-open spaces where they have plenty of room to roam.
HABITAT
Badgers live in open areas like prairies, meadows, and grasslands. They do not like to live in thick forests because they need plenty of soft soil for digging. They live in underground homes called setts or dens, which have long tunnels to keep them safe and cool.
DIET
Badgers are carnivores. Since they are such fast diggers, they often hunt animals that live underground.
Favorite Foods: They love to eat ground squirrels, gophers, and prairie dogs.
Other Snacks: They also eat mice, lizards, and sometimes even rattlesnakes!
LIFE CYCLE
Mother badgers usually have their babies in the early spring.
A group of baby badgers is called a litter, and there are usually 1 to 5 babies.
The babies are born in a special grass-lined room deep underground.
The cubs stay with their mother for several months to learn how to hunt and dig their own tunnels.
SIZE & WEIGHT
A badger has a low, wide body that is built close to the ground. They are usually between 20 and 30 inches long. They are very heavy for their size and can weigh between 15 and 25 pounds. That is about the same as a large backpack full of books!
PREDATORS
Because they are so tough and have such sharp claws and teeth, not many animals want to mess with a badger. However, large predators like cougars, golden eagles, and wolves will sometimes try to hunt them. A badger’s best defense is to quickly dig a hole and disappear into the ground!
ADAPTATIONS
The badger is built like a living bulldozer.
Long Claws: They have very long, thick claws on their front paws that are perfect for scooping out dirt.
Tough Skin: A badger has very thick, loose skin. If a predator tries to grab them, the badger can turn around inside its own skin to bite back!
Third Eyelid: They have a special clear eyelid that protects their eyes from falling dirt while they are digging underground.
FUN FACTS
The Hunting Partner: Sometimes a badger and a coyote will hunt together! The badger digs the animal out of the ground, and the coyote catches it if it tries to run away.
Fast Diggers: A badger can dig its way out of sight in just a few minutes. They are much faster at digging than a human with a shovel!
Clean Houses: Badgers are very tidy. They often move to a new den every few days to keep their living space clean.
ANIMAL TALK
The American Badger is a solitary animal that uses sounds to show its mood or defend its territory.
Hisses and Growls: They hiss, snarl, and growl loudly to warn others to stay away from their burrow.
Chirps: Mother badgers make soft chirping sounds to talk to their babies.
Scent Marking: They use a strong scent to leave "messages" on rocks and dirt for other badgers to find.
RESPECTING WILDLIFE
American Badgers are often misunderstood, but they are very helpful neighbors for people who live in open country or near farms.
Expert Pest Control: Badgers are incredible hunters of rodents. They help farmers by catching large numbers of ground squirrels, pocket gophers, and mice that might otherwise eat crops or dig holes in unwanted places.
Providing Homes: Once a badger is done using a burrow, they move on. These empty tunnels become very important homes for other animals like burrowing owls, foxes, and snakes.
Give Them Space: If you see a badger, it is best to watch from a distance. They are not mean, but they are very brave and will stand their ground if they feel cornered. Keeping dogs on a leash in badger country helps keep both the pets and the badgers safe.
Driving Carefully: Badgers are low to the ground and move slowly across roads at night. Being extra careful while driving near meadows and prairies helps these master diggers stay safe.
American Badger Photos
