Main Characteristics

American Badgers have a body length of 42 - 72 cms (16.5 - 28 inches), a tail length between 10 and 16 cms (4 - 6.5 inches) and they weigh between 4 and 12 kgs (8.75 - 26 lbs).

Their shaggy coat is grizzled grey in colour and they have a yellow/white underside. Their legs are black and they have white cheeks and a thin, white stripe on their head.

Habitat

American Badgers can be found in open country and deciduous woodlands in North America. They are solitary and mainly nocturnal.

Diet

American Badgers mainly feed on small mammals such as mice, prairie dogs and ground squirrels.

Breeding

American Badgers breed from summer to early autumn and following a 7 month pregnancy, which includes a 5.5 month period of delayed implantation, 1 - 5 cubs are born in a burrow. The youngsters are weaned at 6 weeks old and they disperse soon afterwards.

Predators

Humans are the main predators of American Badgers.

Subspecies

Subspecies of the American Badger include:

Taxidea taxus berlandieri
Taxidea taxus jacksoni
Taxidea taxus jeffersonii
Taxidea taxus taxus

Interesting Facts

In Mexico, American Badgers are sometimes known as 'tlacoyote'.

Similar Animals

Hog Badger
Asian Badger
Honey Badger
Japanese Badger
Eurasian Badger