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!

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!

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.

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!

Amazing Adaptations

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.

Animal Talk

How Do American Badgers Communicate?

American badgers usually live alone, so they don't need to “talk” to one another very often. But when they do communicate, they can use sounds, body language, and especially scent to send a message.

Growls & Snarls: When threatened or cornered, a badger may growl or snarl as a warning: “Stay back!”
A Powerful Warning: A frightened or angry badger can also release a strong-smelling musk. Like its skunk relatives, this smell can help discourage a threat from getting too close.
Scent Messages: Smell is an important form of communication. Badgers are thought to use scent markings that can give other badgers information, including clues about whether they are ready to mate.

Fun Animal Talk Fact: Because American badgers spend so much of their lives alone, scientists still don't know as much about their communication as they do about many more social animals.

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.