A member of the family Mustelidae, North American badgers have a reputation for being quite ferocious. While they are rarely instigators of aggression, they can certainly be very defensive. They have very few predators because of this, and have even been observed defending their territory from much larger predatory animals like bears! Badgers are quite common in Eastern Oregon; they tend to live in areas of open country and loose soil. These animals are fossorial, which means they are diggers and live their lives largely underground. With long claws and short strong legs, badgers are able to dig through very hard surfaces. There are even documented cases of badgers being able to make their way through concrete.
American Badger
Taxidea taxus
- Classification: Mammal
- Lifespan in Captivity: 25 yrs
- Lifespan in the Wild: 12 yrs
- Length: 3 ft
- Weight: 35 lbs
- Range: Most of North America
- Habitat: Prefers open grassland, prairie, open forest
- Diet: Omnivore
- Diet in the Wild: Small rodents, insects and larvae, reptiles, fruits and berries
- Diet at Wildlife Images: variety of meats, kibble, fruit
