American Badger

Taxidea taxus

Size

23 - 30 inches (58.4 - 76 cm)

Diet

Rats, gophers, mice, ground squirrels, prairie dogs

Predators

Coyote, wolf, bobcat, mountain lion, bear, golden eagle

General Biology

Badgers are mustelids, a group of mammals that includes weasels, otters, ferrets, and the wolverine. They are fossorial (digging) specialists with many adaptations suited for that lifestyle. Their bodies are stocky and low to the ground with large claws and strong forelimbs. They also have a clear second eyelid called the nictitating membrane that protects their eyes when they are digging. Color wise, badgers are mostly grizzled brown, gray, and tan with black or brown markings on their face and a white strip down their nose.

Behavior

Badgers are excellent diggers and are generally seen digging in fields for their preferred prey of rodents. They are usually nocturnal, which makes spotting them difficult, though they can be observed during the day in the spring. At this time, the females are spending the nights with their young and so forage during daytime. Badgers are known to partner with coyotes to hunt prey. It is thought that this increases the chances of a successful hunt for both species, as the prey cannot hide underground from the coyote or run out of its burrow from the badger.

Conservation

Least concern

When and Where to See

Check fields, specifically those inhabited by Prairie dogs, in the early morning or late evening.