Last Updated on Tuesday, 15 December 2009 10:37

Common Name: American Badger
Also referred to as: Badger, North American Badger   
Genus species: Taxidea taxus
Recognized subspecies: T. t. jacksoni,found within southern and western Ontario agricultural areas;  T. t. jeffersonii, found within the mountain valleys of southern British Columbia; and T. t. taxus, found throughout the prairie provinces

Family: Mustelidae
Order: Carnivora

General Description:

• Weight: on average, males and females are 6.15 kg (varies from 3.6-7.71 kg).
• Length: body length is 801 mm (775-845 mm), on average; tail length is 142 mm (130-157 mm).
• Sexual dimorphism is not distinct; males possess a slightly larger head and neck, and their tails are slimmer and lighter in colour; males weigh nearly 26% more than females.
• The body is dorso-ventrally flattened, with a broad head and pointed snout.
• The eyes are small and have a nictitating membrane.
• The snout is very flexible and possesses vibrissae that act as sensory organs.
• Ears, legs and tail are short.
• The feet are relatively large, with long, ivory-coloured claws on the forefeet and shorter, shovel-like claws on the hind feet.
• The limbs are highly muscular and well adapted for digging.
• Pelage is long and coarse across the back with a grizzled appearance.
• The underparts are cream-coloured, and the tail and legs are brown; may be yellowish-brown to silver-grey.
• The face is brownish-black with a white strip running medially from the nose; the length of this strip differs depending on the subspecies.
• The cheeks are white, each possessing a black crescent spot.
• Badgers molt once annually, beginning in spring.
• Dental Formula: I(3/3), C(1/1), P(3/3), M(1/2).

North American Distribution
Habitat Description
Movements and Migratory Habits
Diet and Foraging Strategy
Reproduction
Conservation Status

North American Distribution:

• Found scattered throughout the flattened, southern portions of Canada, from British Columbia to Ontario.
• Within Alberta, T. t. taxus is found within the Grassland and Parkland Natural Regions.

Habitat Description:

• Badgers occupy burrows with a single entrance, which is often surrounded by a large heap of freshly excavated soil.
• While Badgers occupy their burrows in winter, they will often block the tunnel with loose soil.
• Burrows supporting family groups are much more complex with interconnecting tunnels and chambers.
• Grass beds are constructed within the chambers.
• Prefer open environments, such as agricultural land, prairie, and parkland regions.
• Home range average size is estimated to be 725 ha during summer, 53 ha during the fall and 2 ha during winter (while foraging for hibernating rodents).
• Home ranges may overlap; especially during the breeding season, the home range of one male will often overlap with smaller home ranges of a number of females.

Movements and Migratory Habits:

• Solitary for most of the year.
• Badgers do not hibernate; however, they may remain in their burrows for extended periods during inclement weather.
• Dispersal among juvenile Badgers is unpredictable.
• Juveniles may travel 50 km or more during dispersal.

Diet and Foraging Strategy:

• Typically, Badgers are nocturnal carnivores, feeding mainly on fossorial rodents.
• Preferred prey species are ground squirrels, pocket gophers, prairie dogs, kangaroo rats, mice and voles.
• Have been known to dig into occupied ground squirrel burrows, blocking the entrance with soil and waiting for their prey to return.
• Also consume ground-nesting birds (including egg predation), invertebrates and reptiles opportunistically.
• During the fall, more plant matter is consumed
• Badgers will cache food items in old burrows.
• It is common for Badgers to prey on hibernating animals.

Reproduction:

• Mating occurs between July and September.
• During copulation, the male holds on to the back of the females neck with his mouth.
• The penis of male Badgers is hooked with a threaded tip that helps to hold the penis in place during copulation.
• Delayed implantation occurs in February.
• Cubs are born between late March and early May; average litter size is four (2-5 individuals).
• The adult female has eight mammae for nursing her young; however, she will often feed her cubs solid food the entire time she is lactating.
• Weaning occurs after five or six weeks.
• Cubs will become active outside the burrow between four and five weeks of age.
• Females may breed between four and five months of age; however, males do not reach sexual maturity until 14 months.

Conservation Status:

• Federal Status: T. t. jacksoni (Endangered); T. t. jeffersonii (Endangered); T. t. taxus (Not at Risk).
• Provincial Status: Sensitive.
• The Badger population in Alberta has declined significantly due to loss of habitat for livestock grazing and agriculture, as well as a result of historical fur trapping and the loss of key prey species.