# European Badger (*Meles meles*) European badgers are sturdy, burrowing animals with black-and-white faces. They live in family groups called clans. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Woodlands, farmland, and grasslands. - **Also known as:** Common Badger ![European Badger](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424656/objects/4377.jpg) ## Appearance The European Badger has a distinctive black and white striped face, a grey body, and short, powerful legs. Its stocky build and small head with prominent ears make it easily recognizable. The white stripe running from its nose over its head is a key identifying feature. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Mustelidae - **Genus:** Meles ## Interesting facts - Badgers clean their underground homes, called setts, even digging special latrine pits outside! - Badgers communicate using over 16 different sounds, from purrs to growls! - Sometimes, badgers share their huge underground setts with foxes! - They have super-strong jaws that can crush tough insects and even small bones! ## Special abilities - **Tunnel Architect:** European Badger can dig vast underground networks called setts because of their powerful claws and strong forelimbs, which helps them create homes. - **Night Navigator:** European Badger has an amazing sense of smell and hearing that helps them find food and detect danger in the dark. - **Worm Hunter:** European Badger can detect earthworms moving underground, a skill that helps them find their favorite food efficiently. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 60-80 cm - **Weight:** 8-17 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 30 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-5 - **Gestation:** 45-60 days ## Diet & Feeding European Badgers are omnivores, enjoying earthworms, fruits, insects, and small animals. - **Primary Foods:** earthworms, insects, berries, nuts, small rodents, carrion - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Earthworm](https://www.snappit.app/explore/earthworm) (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — A primary and favorite food source. - **Shelter:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Foxes sometimes share sett tunnels with badgers. - **Eaten by:** [Wild Boar](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wild-boar) (*Sus scrofa*) — Wild boar may prey on badger cubs. - **Eats:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Badgers consume honey and bee larvae from nests. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [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. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [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 Do not approach — badgers can be fierce if threatened. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify European 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 European Badger? 60-80 cm ### How much does European Badger weigh? 8-17 kg ### How long does European Badger live? 5-10 years ### How fast can European Badger move? 30 km/h ### What does European Badger eat? European Badgers are omnivores, enjoying earthworms, fruits, insects, and small animals. ### Where is European Badger usually found? Woodlands, farmland, and grasslands. ### How does European Badger hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Zoo de Castellar](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-de-castellar) — Andalusia, ES · Zoo - [Zoo de Cerza](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-de-cerza) — Normandy, FR · Zoo - [Wales Ape and Monkey Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wales-ape-and-monkey-sanctuary) — Wales, GB · Zoo - [Wildgehege Moritzburg](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wildgehege-moritzburg) — Sachsen, DE · Zoo - [Wildpark Eekholt](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wildpark-eekholt) — Schleswig-Holstein, DE · Zoo - [Gola della Rossa and Frasassi Regional Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gola-della-rossa-and-frasassi-regional-nature-park) — IT · Park [View all places to see European Badger](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/european-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: [European Badger: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-badger)