American badger (Taxidea taxus)

The American badger (Taxidea taxus): Photo credit: Shattil & Rozinski / naturepl.com

The American badger is a nocturnal mammal belonging to the same family as weasels, otters and ferrets.They have stocky flattened bodies with short, powerful legs but cannot run quickly. In Kansas, American badgers live in tallgrass prairie where the predominant grasses are big bluestem, little bluestem, and Indian grass. American badgers prey on pocket gophers, prairie dogs, ground squirrels, mice, moles, rabbits, lizards, amphibians and insects as well as ground nesting birds including the burrowing owl. Their huge foreclaws enable them to dig into burrows in pursuit of their prey. Being omnivores, they also consume corn, sunflower seeds, green beans, mushrooms and fungi. Badgers are solitary animals except during mating season. In late spring, females bear a litter of 1-5 cubs. For more excellent photos of badgers visit the Arkive website at

http://www.arkive.org/american-badger/taxidea-taxus/image-G135911.html