# American Badger (*Taxidea taxus*) The American Badger is a sturdy animal with a flat body and short legs. They dig deep burrows in the ground and are known for their strong claws and playful nature. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** American Badgers ![American Badger](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/AmericanBadger.JPG&width=800) Photo: Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AmericanBadger.JPG) ## Appearance The American Badger has a flat, wide body with grizzled grayish-brown fur. It features a distinctive white stripe from its nose to its shoulder, black patches on its cheeks, and small rounded ears, making its face very recognizable. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Mustelidae - **Genus:** Taxidea ## Interesting facts - A group of badgers is sometimes called a 'cete' or a 'colony'. - An American Badger can dig itself underground and out of sight in minutes! - Badgers have a clear third eyelid for protecting their eyes while digging. - Its scientific name, Taxidea taxus, literally means 'badger badger'! ## Special abilities - **Super Digger:** American Badger can dig incredibly fast because of its powerful claws and shovel-like front paws that help them quickly burrow. - **Clever Hunter:** American Badger has a unique hunting strategy that helps them team up with coyotes to catch hidden prey. - **Earth Mover:** American Badger can create complex underground burrows that help them find shelter, raise young, and store food. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 42-72 cm - **Weight:** 4-12 kg - **Lifespan:** 4-6 years - **Speed:** 30 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-5 - **Gestation:** 42-49 days ## Diet & Feeding Hungry hunters that dig for small critters like rodents, snakes, and insects. - **Primary Foods:** ground squirrels, gophers, prairie dogs, mice, snakes, insects - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Symbiotic with:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — cooperates to hunt rodents more effectively - **Hunts:** Black-tailed Prairie Dog (*Cynomys ludovicianus*) — digs into their burrows to catch them - **Hunts:** [Botta's Pocket Gopher](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bottas-pocket-gopher) (*Thomomys bottae*) — a key food source in their habitat - **Eaten by:** [Golden Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/golden-eagle) (*Aquila chrysaetos*) — can prey on young or smaller badgers ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate If you see a badger in the wild, it's best to watch from a distance and not approach it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify American Badger? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is American Badger? 42-72 cm ### How much does American Badger weigh? 4-12 kg ### How long does American Badger live? 4-6 years ### How fast can American Badger move? 30 km/h ### What does American Badger eat? Hungry hunters that dig for small critters like rodents, snakes, and insects. ### Where is American Badger usually found? Grasslands ### How does American Badger hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Five Channels Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/five-channels-dam) — Michigan, US · Historic Site - [Chesterfield](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chesterfield) — Idaho, US · Neighborhood - [Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/organ-mountains-desert-peaks-national-monument) — New Mexico, US · National Park - [Spruce Woods Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/spruce-woods-provincial-park) — Manitoba, CA · State Park [View all places to see American Badger](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/american-badger) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [American Badger: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-badger)