The American badger has grayish fur, with black tips. A badger has a large “badge-like” marking on its face, which makes it look as though it wears a mask, hence the name “badger.” A badger’s body is well-suited for digging; it is short and squat, with small ears, a slightly upturned snout, and stout legs. If you see one, you will notice that it appears to hug the ground as it scurries away from you. The badger uses its long foreclaws for digging, and uses its shovel-like hind claws for moving dirt. They are important for keeping rodent populations down, so please, always leave them alone so they can do their job.

Food: A badger eats small rodents, such as ground squirrels, pocket gophers, kangaroo rats, prairie dogs, and mice. It catches its prey by digging into the burrows of small mammals. It will also eat scorpions, insects, snakes (even rattlesnakes!), lizards, and birds. With its diverse diet, the badger has a lot of options when it’s hungry!  

A badger hole