Badger
Last Review/Updated: May 31, 2002
Taxidea taxus
The badger is one of our most beneficial carnivores. Its thick, stocky body, flat head and heavily clawed feet aid in digging out the mice, ground squirrels and pocket gophers which make up its diet. The distinctive facial markings, short tail and general squat appearance of this large weasel (75 cm [30 in.] long and weighing 7 kg [16 lb.]) make it easily identifiable. The badger was once common throughout the parkland and prairie regions south of the North Saskatchewan River, but its current distribution has been much reduced. This weasel, although able to defend itself against most potential enemies, usually avoids danger by retreating underground. Since most of the badger's prey hibernate during the winter beneath the frozen ground, badgers also spend this season in their dens. Mating is believed to occur in August to September and two to five young are born in early April.
