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Eurasian, or Old World badger - MELES MELES
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Badger": "Badger" is of unknown origin, although it might be related to the word "badge," as its markings could look like a "badge." This seems a long stretch, however.
Location: Most of Europe and Asia.
Habitat: Terrestrial. Woodlands, sometimes to high altitudes.
Description: The legs are short and powerful, and the soles of the feet rest flat on the ground. This gives the thickset Eurasian badger a rather swaying gait. On the sides of the white head there are black stripes which run over the eyes as far as the ears. The back is gray and the belly is black. It has powerful claws. The head and body are 24 to 33 inches long with the tail adding about 12 inches. They weigh between 20 and 40 pounds.
Behavior: This is a nocturnal and gregarious animal and often lives in large family groups. It spends the day and the winter months in its burrow system called a "set", which consists of a maze of passages, chambers, and entrances, with a large central chamber. It emerges from the set at night to hunt. It feeds on a variety of things, from plants to living and dead animals. About three-fourths of its diet is plant material.
Reproduction: During the summer mating season it emits loud shrill cries. The fertilized egg is not implanted in the uterus for four or five months. After implantation, gestation lasts for six to eight weeks, and three to five young are born in February or March.
Note: This species is protected in many countries.
Go to the Carnivore Page to learn more about all the meat-eating animals.
Or go to the Badger Index to study other
badgers.
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