Also known as: American badger
The badger is a very robust and stocky animal with a short, bushy tail. Its walk is comical due to short legs and a broad body, requiring a swagger or waddle. It has long, shaggy fur with a distinctive white stripe that extends from its nose to its shoulders. Each black foot has five toes; front feet feature long, thick claws over an inch long. Badgers have small eyes and ears and a slightly pointed nose. Their sense of smell is second only to that of members of the dog family. Despite a cute appearance, they are ferocious fighters that should not be disturbed, and will growl, snarl, and emit an unpleasant musk if provoked.
Habitat & Range
Badgers live in varied habitats but most commonly are found in open country such as prairies and plains. They avoid heavily wooded areas and habitats with rocky soils. In Texas, they are most common in portions of West and South Texas and are occasionally sighted in the eastern part of the state.
Life History
Badgers are fossorial (burrowing) animals. They dig using their long front claws to break ground while back legs kick out dirt. They are described as digging faster than any mammal, including a man with a shovel. Their primary diet consists of small mammals like ground squirrels, pocket gophers, prairie dogs, and cottontail rabbits, plus birds, invertebrates, and carrion. They also eat rattlesnakes and are unaffected by the snake's venom unless they are struck on the nose. When hunting, coyotes sometimes intercept prey escaping badger diggings, leaving the badger without the meal. Badgers typically den in shallow burrows, but during breeding season they dig a deeper nest chamber. These burrows (setts) are marked by mounded earth. They are solitary except when breeding in late summer. Due to delayed implantation, the 1 to 5 pups are not born until March or April, though actual embryonic development takes only six weeks. The female raises the blind, helpless pups alone until they leave the den in late fall. Badgers normally may live for 10 to 12 years.
Status, Trends & Threats
No specific conservation status is listed by TPWD. Badgers are not listed as threatened or endangered in Texas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a badger look like?
Badgers are robust, stocky animals with short legs and a broad body. They have long shaggy fur with a distinctive white stripe extending from the nose to the shoulders, and long front claws over an inch long.
What do badgers eat?
Badgers primarily eat small mammals such as ground squirrels, pocket gophers, prairie dogs, and cottontail rabbits. They also eat birds, invertebrates, carrion, and rattlesnakes.
Where do badgers live in Texas?
Badgers are most common in open country such as prairies and plains in portions of West and South Texas. They are occasionally sighted in the eastern part of the state.
