* Threatened or Endangered
American Badger *
: Taxidea taxus
: Mammal
: Southwest Canada south to Mexico
: Chipmunks, ground squirrels, mice, rabbits, carrion, and insects
: Weight 12 to 20 lbs., length about 30 inches
: Least Concern
• Once very common in most of their range, badgers are rarely observed in some areas and have disappeared entirely from areas most affected by the encroachment of humans.
• This efficient digger is very effective at hunting ground squirrels and other small burrowing animals.
o They can dig faster than a foot a minute in search of food.
o They can smell underground to find prey in their burrows.
o They will dig, following the burrow tunnel until they find their prey.
• Badgers mate in the fall, but delay implantation of the egg until February, with young usually being born in April.
Respect native wildlife by remembering that…it’s wild! When enjoying native land where wildlife lives, always be aware, be safe, and leave no trace. Never approach, taunt, or feed wildlife. Interacting with them can be dangerous to you and to them. Instead, enjoy their beauty and their ecosystem without disturbing them. To learn more, follow these links:
gf.nd.gov/wildlife/orphaned
www.nationalparks.org/connect/blog/tips-safely-visiting-national-parks