Species

By Yathin S Krishnappa - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24504952

Taxidea taxus

Badgers are short, stocky mustelids. They are solitary, nocturnal mammals. They have short grizzled fur with brown/black patches on the cheeks and a white stripe from their nose. In northern populations, this stripe extends to the shoulders. In southern populations, it continues to the base of the tail. Males tend to be larger.

Range: Western, central, and northeastern U.S.; northern Mexico; and south-central Canada

Habitat: Grasslands, deserts, and chapparral

Size: 4-12 kg (8.81 to 26.43 lb); 52-87.5 cm (20.47 to 34.45 in)

Life Span: 10-14 years in the wild; 16-26 years in captivity

Feeding: Carnivore (fossorial)

Reproduction: Polygynandrous. Mating occurs in late summer but embryos are not implanted until Dec-Feb. Gestation is 6 weeks, and females have 1 to 5 cubs born in spring. They wean around 2 to 3 months and are independent by 5 to 6 months. Females can mate as early as 4 months but are typically a year old. Males are not sexually mature until 16 months.

Conservation Status: Least concern. Adapt well to captivity.

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