Animal Fact Sheet
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American Badger
Taxidea taxus
What does it look
like?
Badgers are members of the weasel family. This slow-moving wide-bodied,
short-tailed mammal has thick skin, dense fur and powerful limbs
bearing long, sharp digging claws.
- White facial stripes and reddish gray upper parts identify
the American badger
- Their under parts are buff, feet are brown to black
- A central white facial stripe runs from their nose to shoulders
with black patches on their faces and cheeks
- Loose skin enables the badger to maneuver more freely in tight
quarters as well as making it difficult for a predator to grasp
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| Where
in the world?
As the name applies American badgers range throughout the central
and western United States, north to Canada, south into central Mexico
and Baja, and east into Ohio. Burrows can be found in grasslands,
scrub and sandy desert regions.
What are some behaviors?
Badgers are known for their ability to dig. Strong, powerful front
claws loosen dirt while hind feet rake it away. Badgers' wide, flattened
body and pigeon-toed, rocking, waddling gait are unmistakable. Compulsive
burrowers, over time, a badger settlement becomes a series of small
quarries. The sleeping nests in which badgers stay during daytime
are lined with dry grass. Primarily nocturnal during summer, they
may use a different sleeping den each day. During winter when they
become diurnal, badgers prefer to stay close to one den. If cornered,
badgers defend themselves vigorously and effectively. It is not
uncommon for badgers to form a "hunting partnership" with
a coyote.
What about offspring?
Badgers are solitary all year until mating season in late summer
or early fall. Implantation of fertilized eggs is delayed until
winter. From one to five in a litter are born in a nest of dry grass
during spring and early summer. Young remain in the burrow 5 to
6 weeks, leaving at the end of summer to fend for themselves. The
males take no part in raising the young. |
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What
does it eat?
Badgers are truly omnivorous, including birds, reptiles and arthropods
although they feed primarily on rodents dug from their burrows.
Badgers often plug up other exits before digging in to the main
burrow of their prey.
Is it threatened
or endangered?
No, not at the present. |
