Description

American Badger

An Image of an American Badger rummaging through the snow!

The American badger (Taxidea taxus) is a medium–sized mammal native to North America. It is found in dry grasslands, open forests, and semi–arid scrubland across the western and central United States and parts of southwestern Canada. It is the largest member of the Mustelidae (weasel) family in North America. The American badger has a stout body with short legs and a thick neck. Its fur is mostly gray with a white stripe running down its back and sides. Its head is dark with white patches around the eyes and ears. The American badger is a solitary animal that feeds mainly on small mammals, such as ground squirrels and pocket gophers. It is also known to eat reptiles, amphibians, insects, and even carrion. The American badger is a powerful digger and has been known to dig burrows up to 6 feet (1.8 m) deep and 15 feet (4.6 m) long. It will also use existing underground burrows as shelter. The American badger is not considered endangered, but its population is decreasing due to habitat loss and persecution by hunters.