American Badger
American Badger
Taxidea taxus
Taxidea taxus
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Population, Conservation Status, Threats:
Considered least concern by the IUCN, though populations are decreasing. Badgers are threatened by habitat loss as grassland is converted into agricultural fields, and the reduction of prairie dog and other ground squirrel populations, which make up a significant portion of the species' diet.
Physical Description:
American badgers are large, squat mustelids. Their fur is primarily ticked gray, lighter on the belly, with black legs and dark striped markings along the snout and face. Badgers have long digging claws and strong, short legs, small ears placed low on their flat head, and short tails.
American badger range from Montana Field Guide. Badgers are found across most of the United States, excepting the southeast.
Habitat:
Badgers can be found in open grassland and prairie habitats across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. They rely on populations of burrowing prey species such as ground squirrels and prairie dogs, and require soils that support the excavation and inhabitation of their own dens.
Behavior:
Badgers are solitary, but not particularly territorial, animals. They occupy moderately-sized home ranges, and wander widely across them as they hunt, resting in the multiple dens they dig across their range. They are more active at night, and during the winter, may enter a state of torpor during the coldest periods.
Diet:
Badgers are carnivores, predating primarily on other plains-dwelling burrowers by digging them out of their own dens. Prairie dogs and other ground squirrels make up a large chunk of their diet, but they are not picky, and will eat insects, birds and reptiles, and carrion as well.
Reproduction:
Badgers mate in late summer, and 1-5 young are born in the spring. Weaning occurs at around 2 months, though young will stay with their mother throughout the summer, dispersing in the fall.
Associated Species:
Coyotes and badgers have been observed hunting cooperatively together - the badger attempts to dig prey out of a burrow, and the coyote chases down any fleeing prey, resulting in an overall higher hunting success for both individuals. Prairie dogs are frequently predated upon by badgers. Cougars and golden eagles have been known to hunt badgers.
Illustration by Willow Sedam
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