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The most commonly known definition for the word "badger" is "to annoy". According to "The New Book of Knowledge", published by Grolier Incorporated in 1996, the phrase "to badger" became a common phrase because these animals were once used in a cruel sport in Europe known as badger baiting. Bets would be placed, and badgers would be leashed or confined to a container or pit. Dogs would then be encouraged to fight them to the death.
The article entitled "North American Badger", written by Nancy Shefferly and published by The Regents of the University of Michigan, provides the following information on the classification of the American badger. Also known as Taxius taxus, the badger is of the Musteliadae family and the subfamily of the Taxdiinae. It is of the Taxidfea genus and the Carnivora order. The badger is classified as Mammalia in the Chordata phylum.
Badgers can be found across the United States, but often go unnoticed since they are nocturnal creatures. In addition, because of the badger's natural habitat destruction, their numbers have greatly decreased. According to "The New Book of Knowledge", the American badger is indigenous to the prairies and plains across the United States and can be found from Mexico to Canada.
The American badger is described by "The New Book of Knowledge" as having a black or deep brown face with white markings across the cheeks and above the eyes. These markings resemble a badge, hence the badger was given its name. The badger can also be identified by a white stripe that starts at the top of the nose and continues down the back of its head. According to "North American Badger", in the southern United States, the stripe runs all the way down the back. In the northern part of the United States, the stripe ends at the back of the neck. Male badgers can weigh as much as twenty pounds and reach a length of two and one half feet. "American Badger", published by the California Department of Fish and Game, says the badger has a flat, wide body and very strong, short legs. The badger's claws are between one inch and one and one half inches in length. The badger's fur is described as being a silvery gray with a shaggy appearance. The tail is short with a yellow tint. The badger's eyes are small in comparison to the head, and they have a membrane that aids in protecting them while digging. The same article describes the skin of the badger as loose, mainly on the upper portion of the body.
According to the article entitled "Badger", published by Texas Parks and Wildlife, badgers use their long claws and powerful legs to burrow beneath the ground. They use their hind legs to remove the dirt as their front legs dig. It also says the badger is capable of digging faster than a man would be able to dig if he were using a shovel.
The habitats of the badger, as described by the article entitled "Badger", are found mainly in open areas. They are not usually found in rocky or wooded locations. Their burrows, which are called "setts", are usually shallow. These burrows can be quite deep when they are used for nesting. "American Badger" adds that the burrows have one entrance and can be identified by a pile of soil next to the opening. During cold weather, the badger plugs a portion of the entrance for added warmth and protection. The same article says badgers often use the same burrow year after year, but many will dig a new one each evening during the hot summer months.
As mentioned previously, badgers are classified as carnivores, meaning their diet consists primarily of meat. According to "American Badger", they mostly consume small mammals such as mice, rats, chipmunks, ground squirrels, pocket gophers, and their diet depends on what is available according to the season. Badgers will often bury excess food for future meals. In addition to their basic diet, they also consume eggs, carrion, and feed on birds and small reptiles. The article entitled "Badger" says badgers have been known to eat rattlesnakes, and they are amazingly unharmed by the snake's poison venom. The same article says coyotes have been known to steal a badger's food after the fleeing prey reaches the surface of the ground. Most of the badger's prey, says "North American Badger", is captured by digging through the soil using incredible speed.
"North American Badger" provides the following information on badger reproduction. It says the badger mates early in the fall, but the embryos do not continue forming until winter, between the months of December and February. The female badger is capable of mating at four months of age, and males begin mating when they are approximately two years of age. The pregnancy lasts for seven months, but the embryos grow for only six weeks before they are fully developed. The article entitled "Badger" says the babies are born blind, and the mother badger takes care of her young until they are mature enough to venture out of the burrow in late autumn. Badgers often live between ten and twelve years.
Although badgers do not go out of their way to look for a fight, they will fight very aggressively when provoked or attacked. The article entitled "Badger" says when provoked, a badger will emit a very foul musky odor, growl, and bare its teeth. These animals should not be approached or disturbed.
Badgers have a positive and negative effect on the human population. "North American Badger" describes both aspects in the following. Badger holes can pose a danger to livestock. Animals stepping in these holes have broken their legs, and many times these animals have to be put down. Although badgers create a risk with their burrows, they are a tremendous benefit to human beings. They kill many of the animals we consider pests.
Badgers have few natural predators. "American Badger" says coyotes sometimes prey on badgers, but the major threat comes from man. Badgers are often trapped, killed by vehicles, poisoned, shot, and they fall victim to farming equipment. Even though their numbers have lessened, this interesting creature still continues to thrive across the United States of America.
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