I’m a Badger

I’m unique in appearance

I resemble many types of small animals

I am short, full bodied, with an elongated head and have a white face with two black stripes that run down my face and past my eyes and I have a cute little black nose.



I have 4 stubby legs and I have a tail.

I am usually grey or brown in color with white and I have tiny ears.



I’m a mustelid and I belong to the family that includes weasels, martens, ferrets, otters, polecats, minks, skunks and wolverines.



Badgers live in open areas in meadows, grasslands, fields, sagebrush, woodlands and semi arid deserts.



They inhabit many places in the world including Subsaharan Africa, Asia, Arabian desert, United Kingdom, Europe, North America and many other countries in the world.



They live in all continents with exception of Antarctica.



Badgers live underground to keep cool in the day and create tunnels by burrowing into the ground creating shelter called setts.



They are nocturnal creatures and they work cooperatively in clans of up to 15 known as cetes.



Some badgers live solitary lives and some are socially engaged.



Badgers do seek mates and also find comfort in having companions in the cold winters.



When they mate the female always takes care of her young and protects her cubs in dens and provides all necessary love, support and care to her young making sure they are fed and nurtured.



Badgers are born blind and helpless completely dependent on their mothers.



Badgers do not take to cold weather so they seek shelter underground to escape the cold winter months in their setts where they seek warmth and store their food.



They are fast workers and they cooperate with one another in building, burrowing and when on the hunt.



They hunt for food in the night and generally eat small animals, insects, snakes, worms, vegetation, fruits and nuts.



They can run up to 19 miles per hour in short range as they hunt or escape from predators.



They’ve been known to get slightly drunk after eating rotting fruit that ferments and sends them into a dizzying experience after they consume it.



Badgers typically are shy and not aggressive and will run away but they will defend their young and fight off any threat to them.



Badgers have a life expectancy of 10 years in the wild with some dying younger but in captivity they can live up to 25 years.



Badgers are hunted for their pelts so they must always be aware of their surroundings and seek protection and use their camouflage to hide and stay clear of predators and hunters.



There are 15 species of badgers throughout the world including the American badger and the honey badger.



Each badger is unique to their species and their behavior, lifestyle, appearance, habitat is predicated on their specific species.



Badgers are depicted in film, books and serve as mascots at colleges and universities.



One popular animated movie featuring the badger, Clive Badger, an attorney to Mr. Fox is the “Fantastic Mr. Fox” which also features Mr. Fox and his family, Mrs. Felicity Fox, his wife and their son, Ash and many other animals.



It’s centered around the Fox family, his badger attorney and other animals including a weasel, mouse, rat, rabbit, mole among others and threat to the Fox family residence and Mr. Fox scheming to save his home and family.



The badger can be visited at zoos where children can visit and learn more about these fascinating animals.



I’m a very gentle animal and will stay my ground. I am quite shy and will run off if I feel threatened.



I burrow underground in the daytime.

I create a place for myself and my family and only go out at night.



I’m a badger.