What are Badgers?

Badgers are carnivorous mammals and is a common name for any animal of three subfamilies, in the family Mustelidae: the same mammal family as ferrets, weasels, otters, and several other types of weasels. Typical badgers like Meles, Arctonyx, Taxidea and Mellivora species are short-legged and heavy-set. The lower jaw is articulated to the upper by means of a transverse condyle firmly locked into a long cavity of the cranium, so that dislocation of the jaw is all but impossible. This enables the badger to maintain its hold with the utmost tenacity, but limits the jaw movement to hinging open and shut or sliding from side to side. The behavior of badgers differs by family, but all shelter underground, living in burrows called setts. Some are solitary, moving from home to home, while others are known to form clans. Clan size varies between 2 to 15 badgers. Badgers are fierce and will protect themselves and their young at any cost. Badgers are capable of fighting off much larger animals like wolves, coyotes and bears.

There are many different types of badgers but one of the most common is the European badger. This mammal has 2 black stripes going down it's face to scare away predator's. Badgers live in 'setts' which consist of a series of tunnels and 'rooms' called 'chambers'. Badgers are omnivores and eat earthworms, fruit and many of them enjoy peanuts. The females are slightly smaller than the males reaching roughly about just under 1 meter. Badgers can be found in wooded areas and are commonly seen in gardens of homes at night. (they are nocturnal).