Page 50 - Mar/Apr 2022 Outdoor Okahoma Magazine

O K L A H O M A ’ S
Watchable Wildlife

a meriCaN ba dger

by j esse g og gi N, eduCatioN i N terN

The American badger (Taxidea taxus) is a member of a state. They have been documented in eastern Oklahoma.

carnivorous family of mammals known as Mustelidae, which They prefer dry, open ground such as fields and pastures.
includes wolverines, minks, and weasels. Badgers have a There are five subspecies of the American badger. T. t.
brown coat on top, but are mostly white underneath. Their taxus is the first described population, or nominate, subspe-

heads have a distinct striped pattern, with one long white cies. This type is found throughout central Canada and the
stripe extending the length of the body. central United States, including Oklahoma.
Badgers are fossorial, or burrowing, predators. They use Badgers spend most of their time alone. During late

their strong legs and large claws to dig into a prey animal’s summer and early fall, they will begin to gather for the
burrow. Badgers are known mating season. Males will
Badgers are known to
to plug the tunnels of prey mate with multiple females.
plug the tunnels of prey to
to prevent escapes. Some- Although they mate in July
times they use objects such and August, the embryos
prevent escapes. Sometimes
as rocks to block the tun- do not start to develop until
nels. This qualifies them as they use objects such as around December to Febru-

a tool-using animal. They ary. Females give birth, in
rocks to block the tunnels.
also sometimes hunt with an underground nest, around
This qualifies them as a
coyotes. The coyotes help March. A litter of badgers

the badger’s success rate will usually consist of one
tool-using animal.
by deterring prey animals to five cubs. The young are
from leaving their tunnels. Badgers mostly prey on smaller born blind with a light coat of fur.

rodents but are known to eat reptiles and insects. One reptile The young badgers emerge from the nest at about 5 weeks
that badgers seem to enjoy eating is the rattlesnake. of age. They will leave their mothers when about 6 months
Badgers are found primarily in the North American Great old. Females have been known to become pregnant at four

Plains. They can be found as far north as British Columbia, months old. Males, however, usually do not become fertile
Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. They occur as far until they are about 2 years old.

east as Ohio. Badgers are found across northern Mexico In Oklahoma, badgers may be harvested from Dec. 1 to
and are referred to as the tlalcoyte. In Oklahoma, badgers Feb. 28 using firearms, archery gear or traps. There is no
are primarily present in the western and central parts of the daily or season limits for harvest.

48 WATCHABLE WILDLIFE

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