The American badger, Taxidea taxus, is a North American badger that looks much like the European badger although the two are not closely related. It lives in the western, central and northeastern United States, northern Mexico and south-central Canada, reaching parts of southwestern British Columbia. Its habitat is typified by open grasslands with available prey such as mice, squirrels and groundhogs, and it favors prairie regions with sandy loam soils where it can dig easily. It is a fossorial carnivore and is generally nocturnal, though in remote areas with no human encroachment it is routinely seen foraging by day. Humans trap American badgers for their pelts. In the wild the average longevity is 9 to 10 years, with a record of 14.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) ThreatsBiological Resource Use 1 Relationship to People Living or Extinct Activity Pattern Connections
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source American badgerLead, where it livesQuote, Lead, where it lives
It is found in the western, central, and northeastern United States, northern Mexico, and south-central Canada to certain areas of southwestern British Columbia.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source American badgerLead, where it livesQuote, Lead, where it lives
It is found in the western, central, and northeastern United States, northern Mexico, and south-central Canada to certain areas of southwestern British Columbia.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source American badgerLead, where it livesQuote, Lead, where it lives
It is found in the western, central, and northeastern United States, northern Mexico, and south-central Canada to certain areas of southwestern British Columbia.
Sources
1. American badger
Lead
The American badger (Taxidea taxus) is a North American badger similar in appearance to the European badger, although not closely related.
Section: Diet
The American badger is a fossorial carnivore.
Section: Behavior
American badgers are generally nocturnal; however, in remote areas with no human encroachment they are routinely observed foraging during the day.
Lead, system
The American badger's habitat is typified by open grasslands with available prey (such as mice, squirrels, and groundhogs).
Section: Predation
American badgers are trapped by humans for their pelts.
Lead, where it lives
It is found in the western, central, and northeastern United States, northern Mexico, and south-central Canada to certain areas of southwestern British Columbia.
Life span
The average longevity in the wild is 9-10 years, with a record of 14; a captive example lived at least 15 years and five months.
Threats, trapping
American badgers are trapped by humans for their pelts.
Child Taxon Of: Taxidea, Section: Taxonomy
The American badger is a member of the Mustelidae, a diverse family of carnivorous mammals that also includes weasels, otters, ferrets, and the wolverine.
In Group: Mustelids, Procyonids And Other Carnivorans, Section: Taxonomy
The American badger is a member of the Mustelidae, a diverse family of carnivorous mammals that also includes weasels, otters, ferrets, and the wolverine.
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