Renée DeVincent
Mammals
Badgers are fascinating mammals known for their strength, digging skills, and secretive underground homes. In this guide, kids will learn fun badger facts, including where they live, what they eat, and how they survive in the wild.
In the United States, the American badger (Taxidea taxus) is the only native species of badger. A part of the weasel family, these tough, burrowing mammals are primarily found in the western and central parts of the country, including states such as California, Colorado, and areas throughout the Midwest. They prefer open spaces such as grasslands, prairies, and pastures, where the soil is soft enough for digging. American badgers have stocky, flat bodies with short, powerful legs and long claws built for tunneling. Their coarse fur is usually grayish or brown, and they have a distinctive white stripe that runs from their nose over the top of their head, along with dark facial markings that give them a bold, masked appearance.
Badgers are carnivores—that means they eat meat. Their favorite snacks include:
They dig super-fast tunnels to sneak up on their prey. Their hunting style is so unique that they even team up with coyotes sometimes to catch food together!
EUROPEAN BADGER
Famous for its bold black-and-white striped face, the European badger (Meles meles) lives across Europe and parts of Asia. Known to be social compared to American badgers, it often shares its homes—or setts—with family groups.
(Photo by: michal stock.adobe.com
HONEY BADGER (Ratel)
Native to Africa and parts of Asia, honey badgers have loose, thick skin and a fearless reputation. They’re known for raiding beehives and taking on creatures much larger than themselves.
(Photo by: philipbird123stock.adobe.com
ASIAN BADGER
Also called the sand badger (Meles leucurus), this species ranges from China to Mongolia and Korea. It’s lighter-colored than its European cousin and sometimes climbs trees!
(Photo by: shuttered stock.adobe.com
Baby badgers are called cubs, and they’re born in cozy underground homes called setts. A mother badger usually gives birth in late winter, often to two or three cubs. When they’re born, cubs are tiny, blind, and covered in soft white fur. They stay safely hidden in the sett for the first couple of months while their eyes open and their black-and-white stripes appear. By spring, the curious cubs start to explore outside with their mom, learning how to dig, hunt for insects, and navigate the tunnels. Just like human toddlers, they play, wrestle, and follow their mom everywhere.
American badgers usually avoid suburban areas, but it’s possible to spot one if your neighborhood is near:
They’re shy, mostly active at night, and prefer to stay hidden. If they do show up in a suburban area, it’s usually because they’re following prey like gophers or ground squirrels, or because development has pushed into their habitat.
Badgers share their prairie habitats with other ground-dwelling animals, such as
weasels, which are quick and skilled hunters, and
rabbits, which use burrows for safety. You might also spot
raccoonsnearby, especially where prairies meet wooded areas, creating a diverse and active environment for many different species.
Badgers and other backyard wildlife need fresh water to stay healthy, especially during hot summer days, dry spells, or freezing weather. One easy way to help is by placing a shallow bowl of clean water in a quiet, shady spot in your yard or garden. Make sure it’s easy for animals to reach but safe from pets or busy areas.
Important tip: Check the water daily and give the bowl a good rinse before refilling it. In winter, a heated bowl will keep the water from freezing.
