Common Name: American Badger
Scientific Name: Taxidea taxus
Conservation Status: Least Concern
At the zoo: Sandy (female, 19y) - she lives in the NE corner of the zoo near the Conservation Corner and Pelicans.
Diet:
Carnivorous - rodents, birds, eggs, reptiles, amphibians, and insects
Life Expectancy:
15 years
Biology:
American badgers are well adapted for life underground. Their skin is tough and loose, enabling them to turn around in small spaces. They have long claws on their front feet and shovel-like claws on their back feet, which are both perfect for digging burrows.
They are no longer hunted for their pelts, however, distinct populations of badgers are on the decline due to habitat fragmentation, agricultural activity, and urbanization.
Fun Fact:
American badgers have been known to cooperatively hunt prey with coyotes!
