The badger is a stocky mammal of about 20 lbs with a silver-gray colored coat. The badger’s legs are short and powerful; and its tail is short and bushy. The badger’s feet are black with very long claws. The most distinctive marking is the white stripe that runs from its nose to mid-back, with black stripes on either side. The badger is diurnal, especially in late afternoon. With a strong sense of smell and long claws, it is well equipped for finding and digging its prey from their dens.
Strictly carnivorous, the badger feeds mainly on rodents including ground squirrels, rats, mice, gophers and chipmunks.
Badgers are known to be excellent digging machines. Their powerfully built forelimbs allow them to tunnel rapidly through the soil. They construct underground burrows for protection and sleeping. A typical badger den may be as far as 10 ft below the surface, contain approximately 30 ft of tunnels and an enlarged sleeping chamber.
Badger pups are born in March or April. Litter Size: 1 – 4, usually 2 or 3, with 1 litter per year.
