Main Characteristics

Eurasian Badgers have a body length between 56 and 90 cms (22 - 35 inches), a tail length between 12 and 20 cms (4.75 - 8 inches) and they weigh between 10 and 12 kgs (22 - 26 lbs).

They are grey in colour with a black underside and legs. Their face and neck are white with a black stripe on each side going from their nose, over each eye to each ear.

Habitat

Eurasian Badgers are found in the forests and grasslands of Europe to east Asia. They live in family groups, known as clans, consisting of up to 12 individuals. They are nocturnal and they occupy a territory of 50 - 150 hectares (125 - 370 acres).

Diet

Eurasian Badgers are omnivores and they mainly feed on earth worms, insects, frogs, birds, lizards, small mammals, fruit, eggs and carrion.

Breeding

Eurasian Badgers can breed at anytime during the year and they have up to a 10 month period of delayed implantation to ensure their cubs are born under the best environmental conditions. Once the embryos have been implanted, gestation lasts for 7 - 8 weeks after which 1 - 6 cubs are born.

The youngsters are weaned at 5 - 6 months old and they reach sexual maturity at 1 - 1.5 years of age.

Predators

Humans are predators of adult Eurasian Badgers. Cubs are preyed upon by foxes, wolves, lynx, wolverines, owls and birds of prey.

Subspecies

Subspecies of the Eurasian Badger include:

Meles meles arcalus
Meles meles canescens
Meles meles heptneri
Meles meles marianensis
Meles meles meles
Meles meles milleri
Meles meles rhodius
Meles meles severzovi

Interesting Facts

Eurasian Badgers are also known as:
European Badger
Brock

Male badgers are known as 'boars' and females as 'sows'.

Similar Animals

Hog Badger
Asian Badger
Honey Badger
Japanese Badger
American Badger