American badger

The American badger, known scientifically as *Taxidea taxus*, is a powerful mammal native to North America.

It is a member of the Mustelidae family, a group of carnivorous mammals. This family includes animals like otters, weasels, ferrets, and wolverines. While it looks similar to the European badger, the two are not closely related. The American badger is a specialized predator that plays a vital role in its ecosystem. It helps control populations of various small animals through its unique hunting and digging skills.

Physically, the American badger is built for a life spent largely underground. Scientists call these animals fossorial specialists, meaning they are experts at digging.

They possess a conical head and thick bristles on their ears to protect them while tunneling. Their eyes even have nictitating membranes, which are clear third eyelids that protect the eye from dirt. Their most impressive tools are their powerful forelimbs. These limbs feature a strong humerus and large bony processes for heavy muscle attachment. They also have a specialized olecranon process in the elbow to increase mechanical advantage. Their huge foreclaws can measure up to 5 cm in length. To move earth, they use a process called scratch-digging. They withdraw their forelimbs to break the soil and then push the debris to the sides or behind them.

There are four recognized subspecies of the American badger, each living in different regions.

The nominate subspecies, *T. t. taxus*, lives in central Canada and the central United States. *T. t. jacksoni* is found in the southern Great Lakes region, including southern Ontario. *T. t. jeffersoni* inhabits Alberta and the northwestern United States. Finally, *T. t. berlandieri* lives in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. In Mexico, they are sometimes called tlalcoyote. These ranges often overlap, creating areas where intermediate forms of the subspecies can be found. The northern subspecies, *T. t. jeffersoni*, tend to be heavier than those living in the south.

Evolutionary history shows that the American badger has a very old lineage. Its closest relative is a prehistoric animal called *Chamitataxus*. Among all living mustelids, the American badger is considered a sister group to all other species. This means its lineage split away from the rest of the Mustelidae family about 18 million years ago. This occurred after the broader mustelid lineage had already split from procyonids about 29 million years ago. This long history has allowed the badger to become perfectly adapted to its specific North American habitats.

An American badger's diet is quite diverse, as they are fossorial carnivores.

They primarily hunt small mammals like pocket gophers, ground squirrels, moles, and prairie dogs. They are also skilled at pursuing prey into their dens and may even plug tunnel entrances with objects. In South Dakota, they are considered the most important predator of snakes, including rattlesnakes. Beyond mammals, they eat lizards, amphibians, fish, and even insects like bees. They occasionally consume plant foods such as corn, peas, and sunflower seeds. This varied diet helps them survive in different environments.

One of the most fascinating behaviors of the American badger is hunting in tandem with coyotes.

This partnership relies on the different ways prey animals react to each predator. When a ground squirrel sees a coyote, it usually runs into its hole to hide. However, if a squirrel sees a badger, it often tries to climb out of its hole to outrun the badger. By hunting together, the two predators force the prey to make difficult choices. Research shows that coyotes benefit from an increased catch rate of about 33% when working with a badger. While it is hard to measure the exact benefit to the badger, they are often seen being more active during these times.

Badgers have a specific life cycle that begins with a period of delayed implantation. This means that even after mating in late summer or fall, the pregnancy is suspended until December or February. Young are born between late March and early April in litters that average about three pups. These babies are born blind, furred, and completely helpless. They typically emerge from their dens at five to six weeks old. Most female badgers become pregnant for the first time after they are one year old. Adult males usually do not begin breeding until their second year. In the wild, these animals typically live for 9 to 10 years.