TheEuropean badger (Meles meles), also known as theEurasian badger, is abadger species in thefamilyMustelidae native toEurope andWest Asia and parts ofCentral Asia. It is classified asleast concern on theIUCN Red List, as it has a wide range and a large, stable population size which is thought to be increasing in some regions. Several subspecies are recognized, with thenominate subspecies (M. m. meles) predominating in most of Europe.[1] In Europe, where no other badger species commonly occurs, it is generally just called the "badger".
The European badger is a powerfully built, black, white, brown, and grey animal with a small head, a stocky body, small black eyes, and a short tail. Its weight varies, being 7–13 kg (15–29 lb) in spring, but building up to 15–17 kg (33–37 lb) in autumn before thewinter sleep period. It isnocturnal and is asocial, burrowing animal that sleeps during the day in one of severalsetts in its territorial range. These burrows have multiple chambers and entrances, and are extensive systems of underground passages of 35–81 m (115–266 ft) length. They house several badger families that use these setts for decades. Badgers are fussy over the cleanliness of their burrow, carrying in fresh bedding and removing soiled material, and they defecate inlatrines strategically situated outside their setts or en route to other setts.[2]
Althoughtaxonomically classified as acarnivoran, the European badger is anomnivore, feeding on a wide variety of plant and animal foods, includingearthworms, largeinsects, smallmammals,carrion,cereals, andtubers. Litters of up to five cubs are produced in spring. The young are weaned a few months later, but usually remain within the family group. The European badger has been known to share its burrow with other species, such asrabbits,red foxes, andraccoon dogs, but it can be ferocious when provoked, a trait which has been exploited in the now-illegalblood sport ofbadger-baiting. Like many wild and domesticated species of mammals, badgers can be carriers ofbovine tuberculosis, which can spread between species and can be particularly detrimental to cattle. In England, badger populations are culled to try to reduce the incidence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle,[3] although the efficacy of this practice is strongly disputed,[4] and badger culls are widely considered cruel and inhumane.[5][6]
Thesource of the word "badger" is uncertain. TheOxford English Dictionary states it probably derives from "badge" +-ard, a reference to the white mark on its forehead that resembles a badge, and may date to the early 16th century.[7] TheFrench wordbêcheur ('digger') has also been suggested as a source.[8] A male badger is a boar, a female is a sow, and a young badger is a cub. A badger's home is called a sett.[9] Badger colonies are often called clans.
Until the mid-18th century, European badgers were variously known in English as brock, pate, grey, and bawson. The name "bawson" is derived from "bawsened", which refers to something striped with white. "Pate" is a local name that was once popular in northern England. The name "badget" was once common, but only used inNorfolk, while "earth dog" was used in southern Ireland.[12] The badger is commonly referred to in Welsh as amochyn daear ('earth pig').[13]
The species likely evolved from the ChineseMeles thorali of the earlyPleistocene. The modern species originated during the earlyMiddle Pleistocene, with fossil sites occurring inEpiscopia,Grombasek,Süssenborn,Hundsheim,Erpfingen,Koněprusy,Mosbach 2, andStránská Skála. A comparison between fossil and living specimens shows a marked progressive adaptation to omnivory, namely in the increase in themolars' surface areas and the modification of thecarnassials. Occasionally, badger bones are discovered in earlierstrata, due to the burrowing habits of the species.[15][16]
In the 19th and 20th centuries, several badgertype specimens were described and proposed assubspecies. As of 2005[update], eight subspecies were recognized asvalidtaxa, but four (canescens,arcalus,rhodius,severzovi) are now considered to belong to a distinct species, theCaucasian badger (M. canescens).[17][18]
A large subspecies with a strongly developed sagittal crest, it has a soft pelage and relatively dense underfur. The back has a relatively pure silvery-grey tone, while the main tone of the head is pure white. The dark stripes are wide and black, while the white fields fully extend along the upper and lateral parts of the neck. It can weigh up to 20–24 kg in autumn, with some specimens attaining even larger sizes.[19]
A large subspecies, it exhibits several traits of the Asian badger, namely its very pale, dull, dirty-greyish-ocherous colour and narrow head stripes.[21]
Steppe region of northeastern Ciscaucasia, the Kalmytsk steppes and the Volga delta
European badgers are powerfully built animals with small heads, thick, short necks, stocky, wedge-shaped bodies and short tails. Their feet areplantigrade[23] or semi-digitigrade[24] and short, with five toes on each foot.[25] The limbs are short and massive, with naked lower surfaces on the feet. The claws are strong, elongated and have an obtuse end, which assists in digging.[26] The claws are not retractable, and the hind claws wear with age. Old badgers sometimes have their hind claws almost completely worn away from constant use.[27] Their snouts, which are used for digging and probing, are muscular and flexible. The eyes are small and the ears short and tipped with white.Whiskers are present on the snout and above the eyes.
Boars typically have broader heads, thicker necks and narrower tails than sows, which are sleeker, have narrower, less domed heads and fluffier tails. The guts of badgers are longer than those ofred foxes, reflecting their omnivorous diet. Thesmall intestine has a mean length of 5.36 m (17.6 ft) and lacks acecum. Both sexes have three pairs ofnipples but these are more developed in females.[25] European badgers cannot flex their backs asmartens,polecats andwolverines can, nor can they stand fully erect likehoney badgers, though they can move quickly at full gallop.[26]
Adults measure 25–30 cm (9.8–11.8 in) in shoulder height,[28] 60–90 cm (24–35 in) in body length, 12–24 cm (4.7–9.4 in) in tail length, 7.5–13 cm (3.0–5.1 in) in hind foot length and 3.5–7 cm (1.4–2.8 in) in ear height. Males (or boars) slightly exceed females (or sows) in measurements, but can weigh considerably more. Their weights vary seasonally, growing from spring to autumn and reaching a peak just before the winter. During the summer, European badgers commonly weigh 7–13 kg (15–29 lb) and 15–17 kg (33–37 lb) in autumn.[29]
The average weight of adults in theBiałowieża Forest was 10.2 kg (22 lb) in spring but up to 19 kg (42 lb) in autumn, 46% higher than the spring low mass.[30] InWoodchester Park,England, adults in spring weighed on average 7.9 kg (17 lb) and in fall average 9.5 kg (21 lb).[31] InDoñana National Park, average weight of adult badgers is reported as 6 to 7.95 kg (13.2 to 17.5 lb), perhaps in accordance withBergmann's rule, that its size decreases in relatively warmer climates.[32][33] Sows can attain a top autumn weight of around 17.2 kg (38 lb), while exceptionally large boars have been reported in autumn. The heaviest verified was 27.2 kg (60 lb), though unverified specimens have been reported to 30.8 kg (68 lb) and even 34 kg (75 lb) (if so, the heaviest weight for any terrestrial mustelid). If average weights are used, the European badger ranks as the second largest terrestrial mustelid, behind only the wolverine.[29] Although their sense ofsmell is acute, theireyesight ismonochromatic as has been shown by their lack of reaction to red lanterns. Only moving objects attract their attention. Theirhearing is no better than that of humans.[34]
Badger skin – the contrasting markings of the fur serve to warn off attackers rather than camouflage, as they are conspicuous at night.[35]
European badger skulls are quite massive, heavy and elongated. Theirbraincases are oval in outline, while the facial part of their skulls is elongated and narrow.[36] Adults have prominentsagittal crests which can reach 15 mm tall in old males,[37] and are more strongly developed than those of honey badgers.[38] Aside from anchoring the jaw muscles, the thickness of the crests protect their skulls from hard blows.[39] Similar to martens,[40] the dentition of European badgers is well-suited for their omnivorous diets. Theirincisors are small andchisel-shaped, theircanine teeth are prominent and theircarnassials are not overly specialized. Theirmolars are flattened and adapted for grinding.[37] Their jaws are powerful enough to crush most bones; a provoked badger was once reported as biting down on a man's wrist so severely that his hand had to be amputated.[41] Thedental formula is3.1.3.13.1.4.2.
Scent glands are present below the base of the tail and on theanus. The subcaudal gland secretes a musky-smelling, cream-coloured fatty substance, while the anal glands secrete a stronger-smelling, yellowish-brown fluid.[37]
In winter, the fur on the back and flanks is long and coarse, consisting of bristly guard hairs with a sparse, soft undercoat. The belly fur consists of short, sparse hairs, with skin being visible in theinguinal region. Guard hair length on the middle of the back is 75–80 mm (3.0–3.1 in) in winter. Prior to the winter, the throat, lower neck, chest and legs are black. The belly is of a lighter, brownish tint, while the inguinal region is brownish-grey. The general colour of the back and sides is light silvery-grey, with straw-coloured highlights on the sides. The tail has long and coarse hairs, and is generally the same colour as the back. Two black bands pass along the head, starting from the upper lip and passing upwards to the whole base of the ears. The bands sometimes extend along the neck and merge with the colour of the upper body. The front parts of the bands are 15 mm (0.59 in), and widen to 45–55 mm (1.8–2.2 in) in the ear region. A wide, white band extends from the nose tip through the forehead and crown. White markings occur on the lower part of the head, and extend backwards to a great part of the neck's length. The summer fur is much coarser, shorter and sparser, and is deeper in colour, with the black tones becoming brownish, sometimes with yellowish tinges.[26] Partialmelanism in badgers is known, andalbinos andleucistic individuals are not uncommon. Albino badgers can be pure white or yellowish with pink eyes, while leucistic ones are the same but with normal eyes instead.Erythristic badgers are more common than the former, being characterized by having a sandy-red colour on the usually black parts of the body. Yellow badgers are also known.[42]
The European badger is native to most of Europe. Its range includes Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Crete, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine.[1]
The distributional boundary between the ranges of European andAsian badgers is theVolga River, the European species being situated on the western bank.[43] The boundary between the ranges of the European andCaucasian badgers is in theNorth Caucasus, but a clear boundary has not been defined, and they aresympatric in some regions, potentially forming ahybrid zone.[44] They are common inEuropean Russia, with 30,000 individuals having been recorded there in 1990. They are abundant and increasing throughout their range, partly due to a reduction inrabies in Central Europe. In the UK, badgers experienced a 77% increase in numbers during the 1980s and 1990s.[1] The badger population in Great Britain in 2012 is estimated to be 300,000.[43]
The European badger is found in deciduous and mixed woodlands, clearings, spinneys, pastureland and scrub, including Mediterraneanmaquis shrubland. It has adapted to life in suburban areas and urban parks, although not to the extent of red foxes. In mountainous areas it occurs up to an altitude of 2,000 m (6,600 ft).[1][45]
A badger's clawsScratching-tree of badgersTwo European badgers grooming each other
European badgers are the most social of badgers,[46] forming groups of six adults on average, though larger associations of up to 23 individuals have been recorded. Group size may be related to habitat composition. Under optimal conditions, badgerterritories can be as small as 30 ha (74 acres), but may be as large as 150 ha (370 acres) in marginal areas.[47] Badger territories can be identified by the presence of communallatrines and well-worn paths.[48] It is mainly males that are involved in territorial aggression. A hierarchical social system is thought to exist among badgers and large powerful boars seem to assert dominance over smaller males. Large boars sometimes intrude into neighbouring territories during the main mating season in early spring.
Sparring and more vicious fights generally result from territorial defense in the breeding season.[49] However, in general, animals within and outside a group show considerable tolerance of each other. Boars tend to mark their territories more actively than sows, with their territorial activity increasing during the mating season in early spring.[47] Badgersgroom each other very thoroughly with their claws and teeth. Grooming may have a social function.[50] They arecrepuscular andnocturnal in habits.[50] Aggression among badgers is largely associated with territorial defence and mating. When fighting, they bite each other on the neck and rump, while running and chasing each other and injuries incurred in such fights can be severe and sometimes fatal. When attacked by dogs or sexually excited, badgers may raise their tails and fluff up their fur.[51]
Grunting and snuffling sounds
European badgers have an extensive vocal repertoire. When threatened, they emit deep growls and, when fighting, make low kekkering noises. They bark when surprised, whicker when playing or in distress,[51] and emit a piercing scream when alarmed or frightened.[45]
Entrance to a badger settA sett shown in an engraving
Like other badger species, European badgers are burrowing animals. However, the dens they construct (called setts) are the most complex, and are passed on from generation to generation.[52] The number of exits in one sett can vary from a few to fifty. These setts can be vast, and can sometimes accommodate multiple families. When this happens, each family occupies its own passages and nesting chambers. Some setts may have exits which are only used in times of danger or play. A typical passage has a 22–63 cm (8.7–24.8 in) wide base and a 14–32 cm (5.5–12.6 in) height. Three sleeping chambers occur in a family unit, some of which are open at both ends. The nesting chamber is located 5–10 m (16–33 ft) from the opening, and is situated more than a 1 m (3 ft 3 in) underground, in some cases 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in). Generally, the passages are 35–81 m (115–266 ft) long. The nesting chamber is on average 74 cm × 76 cm (29 in × 30 in), and are 38 cm (15 in) high.[53]
Badgers dig and collect bedding throughout the year, particularly in autumn and spring. Sett maintenance is usually carried out by subordinate sows and dominant boars. The chambers are frequently lined with bedding, brought in on dry nights, which consists ofgrass,bracken,straw,leaves andmoss. Up to 30 bundles can be carried to the sett on a single night. European badgers are fastidiously clean animals which regularly clear out and discard old bedding. During the winter, they may take their bedding outside on sunny mornings and retrieve it later in the day.[47]Spring cleaning is connected with the birth of cubs, and may occur several times during the summer to prevent parasite levels building up.[53]
If a badger dies within the sett, itsconspecifics will seal off the chamber and dig a new one. Some badgers will drag their dead out of the sett and bury them outside.[54] A sett is almost invariably located near a tree, which is used by badgers for stretching or claw scraping.[55] Badgers defecate inlatrines, which are located near the sett and at strategic locations on territorial boundaries or near places with abundant food supplies.[50]
In extreme cases, when there is a lack of suitable burrowing grounds, badgers may move into haystacks in winter.[53] They may share their setts withred foxes orEuropean rabbits. The badgers may provide protection for the rabbits against other predators. The rabbits usually avoid predation by the badgers by inhabiting smaller, hard to reach chambers.[56]
Estrus in European badgers lasts four to six days and may occur throughout the year, though there is a peak in spring.Sexual maturity in boars is usually attained at the age of twelve to fifteen months but this can range from nine months to two years. Males are normallyfecund during January–May, withspermatogenesis declining in summer. Sows usually beginovulating in their second year, though some exceptionally begin at nine months. They can mate at any time of the year, though the main peak occurs in February–May, when mature sows are in postpartal estrus and young animals experience their first estrus. Matings occurring outside this period typically occur in sows which either failed to mate earlier in the year or matured slowly.[57] Badgers are usuallymonogamous; boars typically mate with one female for life, whereas sows have been known to mate with more than one male.[58] Mating lasts for fifteen to sixty minutes, though the pair may briefly copulate for a minute or two when the sow is not in estrus.A delay of two to nine months precedes the fertilized eggs implanting into the wall of theuterus, though matings in December can result in immediate implantation. Ordinarily, implantation happens in December, with agestation period lasting seven weeks. Cubs are usually born in mid-January to mid-March within underground chambers containing bedding. In areas where the countryside iswaterlogged, cubs may be born above ground in buildings. Typically, only dominant sows can breed, as they suppress the reproduction of subordinate females.[57]
The average litter consists of one to five cubs.[57] Although many cubs are sired by resident males, up to 54% can be fathered by boars from different colonies.[47] Dominant sows may kill the cubs of subordinates.[51] Cubs are born pink, with greyish, silvery fur and fused eyelids. Neonatal badgers are 12 cm (4.7 in) in body length on average and weigh 75 to 132 g (2.6 to 4.7 oz), with cubs from large litters being smaller.[57] By three to five days, their claws become pigmented, and individual dark hairs begin to appear.[58] Their eyes open at four to five weeks and theirmilk teeth erupt about the same time. They emerge from their setts at eight weeks of age, and begin to beweaned at twelve weeks, though they may still suckle until they are four to five months old. Subordinate females assist the mother in guarding, feeding and grooming the cubs.[57] Cubs fully develop their adult coats at six to nine weeks.[58] In areas with medium to high badger populations, dispersal from the natal group is uncommon, though badgers may temporarily visit other colonies.[50] Badgers can live for up to about fifteen years in the wild.[45]
Badgers begin to prepare forwinter sleep during late summer by accumulating fat reserves, which reach a peak in October. During this period, the sett is cleaned and the nesting chamber is filled with bedding. Upon retiring to sleep, badgers block their sett entrances with dry leaves and earth. They typically stop leaving their setts once snow has fallen. In Russia and the Nordic countries, European badgers retire for winter sleep from late October to mid-November and emerge from their setts in March and early April.[59] In areas such as England and Transcaucasia, where winters are less harsh, badgers either forgo winter sleep entirely or spend long periods underground, emerging in mild spells.[45]
Occasionally, they feed on medium to largebirds,amphibians,fish, smallreptiles includingtortoises andlizards,snails,slugs, fungi, tubers and green food such asclover andgrass, particularly in winter and duringdroughts.[63][61] Badgers characteristically capture large numbers of one food type in each hunt. Generally, they do not eat more than 0.5 kg (1.1 lb) of food per day, with young specimens yet to attain one year of age eating more than adults. An adult badger weighing 15 kg (33 lb) eats a quantity of food equal to 3.4% of its body weight.[60] Badgers typically eat prey on the spot, and rarely transport it to their setts.Surplus killing has been observed in chicken coops.[50]
A badger in England scavenging food
Badgers prey on rabbits throughout the year, especially during times when their young are available. They catch young rabbits by locating their position in their nest by scent, then dig vertically downwards to them. In mountainous or hilly districts, where vegetable food is scarce, badgers rely on rabbits as a principal food source. Adult rabbits are usually avoided, unless they are wounded or caught in traps.[64] They consume them by turning them inside out and eating the meat, leaving the inverted skin uneaten.[65] Hedgehogs are eaten in a similar manner.[64] In areas where badgers are common, hedgehogs are scarce.[46] Some rogue badgers may kill lambs,[64] though this is very rare; they may be erroneously implicated in lamb killings through the presence of discarded wool and bones near their setts, though foxes, which occasionally live alongside badgers, are often the culprits, as badgers do not transport food to their setts. They typically kill lambs by biting them behind the shoulder.[64]Poultry andgame birds are also taken only rarely. Some badgers may build their setts in close proximity to poultry or game farms without ever causing damage. In the rare instances in which badgers do kill reared birds, the killings usually occur in February–March, when food is scarce due to harsh weather and increases in badger populations. Badgers can easily breachbee hives with their jaws, and are mostly indifferent tobee stings, even when set upon by swarms.[64]
Ared fox challenging two badgers moving towards a bird feeder at night
European badgers have few natural enemies. While normally docile, badgers can become extremely aggressive and ferocious when cornered, making it dangerous for predators to target them.Grey wolves (Canis lupus),Eurasian lynxes (Lynx lynx) andbrown bears (Ursus arctos), Europe's three largest remaining land predators, and largedomestic dogs (C. familiaris) can pose a threat to adult badgers, though deaths caused by them are quantitatively rare as these predators are often limited in population due to human persecution and usually prefer easier, larger prey likeungulates, while badgers may fight viciously if aware of a predator and cornered without an escape route.[66][67][68][69] They may live alongsidered foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in isolated sections of large burrows.[54] The two species possibly tolerate each other out ofcommensalism; foxes provide badgers with food scraps, while badgers maintain the shared burrow's cleanliness.[70] However, cases are known of badgers driving vixens from their dens and destroying their litters without eating them.[54] In turn, red foxes are known to have killed badger cubs in spring.[71]Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) are known predators of European badgers and attacks by them on badger cubs are not infrequent, including cases where they have been pulled out directly from below the legs of their mothers, and even adult badgers may be attacked by this eagle species when emerging weak and hungry from hibernation.[72][73]Eurasian eagle owls (Bubo bubo) may also take an occasional cub and other large raptors such aswhite-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) andgreater spotted eagle (Clanga clanga) are considered potential badger cub predators.[66][69][74]Raccoon dogs may extensively use badger setts for shelter. There are many known cases of badgers and raccoon dogs wintering in the same hole, possibly because badgers enter hibernation two weeks earlier than the latter, and leave two weeks later. In exceptional cases, badger and raccoon dog cubs may coexist in the same burrow. Badgers may drive out or kill raccoon dogs if they overstay their welcome.[75]
Bovine tuberculosis (bovine TB) caused byMycobacterium bovis is a major mortality factor in badgers, though infected badgers can live and successfully breed for years before succumbing. The disease was first observed in badgers in 1951 in Switzerland where they were believed to have contracted it fromchamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) orroe deer (Capreolus capreolus).[76] It was detected in the United Kingdom in 1971 where it was linked to an outbreak of bovine TB in cows. The evidence appears to indicate that the badger is the primary reservoir of infection for cattle in the southwest of England, Wales and Ireland. Since then there has been considerable controversy as to whether culling badgers will effectively reduce or eliminate bovine TB in cattle.[77]
Internal parasites of badgers includetrematodes,nematodes and several species oftapeworm.[78]Ectoparasites carried by them include thefleasParaceras melis (the badger flea),Chaetopsylla trichosa andPulex irritans (the human flea), theliceTrichodectes melis and theticksIxodes ricinus,I. canisuga,I. hexagonus,I. reduvius andI. melicula. They also suffer from mange.[78] They spend much time grooming, individuals concentrating on their own ventral areas, alternating one side with the other, while social grooming occurs with one individual grooming another on its dorsal surface. Fleas tried to avoid the scratching, retreating rapidly downwards and backwards through the fur. This was in contrast to fleas away from their host, which ran upwards and jumped when disturbed. The grooming seems to disadvantage fleas rather than merely having a social function.[79]
TheInternational Union for Conservation of Nature rates the European badger as being ofleast concern. This is because it is a relatively common species with a wide range and populations are generally stable. In Central Europe it has become more abundant in recent decades due to a reduction in the incidence of rabies. In other areas it has also fared well, with increases in numbers in Western Europe including Great Britain. However, in some areas of intensive agriculture it has reduced in numbers due to loss of habitat and in others it is hunted as a pest.[1]
Badgers play a part in European folklore and are featured in modern literature. InIrish mythology, badgers are portrayed asshape-shifters and kinsmen to Tadg, the king ofTara and foster father ofCormac mac Airt. In one story, Tadg berates his adopted son for having killed and prepared some badgers for dinner.[80] InGerman folklore, the badger is portrayed as a cautious, peace-lovingPhilistine, who loves more than anything his home, family and comfort, though he can become aggressive if surprised. He is a cousin ofReynard the Fox, whom he uselessly tries to convince to return to the path of righteousness.[12]
InKenneth Grahame'sThe Wind in the Willows, Mr. Badger is depicted as a gruff, solitary figure who "simply hates society", yet is a good friend to Mole and Ratty. As a friend of Toad's now-deceased father, he is often firm and serious with Toad, but at the same time generally patient and well-meaning towards him. He can be seen as a wise hermit, a good leader and gentleman, embodying common sense. He is also brave and a skilled fighter, and helps rid Toad Hall of invaders from the wild wood.[81]
InT. H. White's Arthurian seriesThe Once and Future King, the youngKing Arthur is transformed into a badger byMerlin as part of his education. He meets with an older badger who tells him "I can only teach you two things – to dig, and love your home."[82]
A villainous badger named Tommy Brock appears inBeatrix Potter's 1912 bookThe Tale of Mr. Tod. He is shown kidnapping the children of Benjamin Bunny and his wife Flopsy, and hiding them in an oven at the home of Mr. Tod the fox, whom he fights at the end of the book. The portrayal of the badger as a filthy animal which appropriates fox dens was criticized from a naturalistic viewpoint, though the inconsistencies are few and employed to create individual characters rather than evoke an archetypical fox and badger.[83] A wise old badger namedTrufflehunter appears inC. S. Lewis'Prince Caspian, where he aidsCaspian X in his struggle againstKing Miraz.[84]
A badger takes a prominent role inColin Dann'sThe Animals of Farthing Wood series as second in command to Fox.[85] The badger is also the house symbol for Hufflepuff in theHarry Potter book series.[86] TheRedwall series also has the Badger Lords, who rule the extinct volcano fortress of Salamandastron and are renowned as fierce warriors.[87] The children's television seriesBodger & Badger was popular onCBBC during the 1990s and was set around the mishaps of amashed potato-loving badger and his human companion.[88]
An unnamed badger is part ofBosnian Serb writerPetar Kočić's satirical playBadger on Tribunal in which local farmer David Štrbac attempts to sue a badger for eating his crops. It is actually highly critical towards Austro-Hungarian rule inBosnia and Herzegovina at the beginning of the 20th century. In honor of Kočić and his Badger, satirical theater inBanja Luka is named Jazavac (Badger).
European badger appears on thecoat of arms of the municipality ofLuhanka inCentral Finland, referring to the former importance of thefur trade in the locality.[89] The badger is also the title animal of theNurmijärvi municipality inUusimaa, Finland, where it is a very common mammal.[90]
Illustration of a badger brought to bay by a Dachshund (Dachshund is German for "badger-dog")
European badgers are of little significance to hunting economies, though they may be actively hunted locally. Methods used for hunting badgers include catching them in jaw traps, ambushing them at their setts with guns, smoking them out of their earths and through the use of specially bred dogs such asFox Terriers andDachshunds to dig them out.[91] Badgers are, however, notoriously durable animals; their skins are thick, loose and covered in long hair which acts as protection, and their heavily ossified skulls allow them to shrug off mostblunt traumas, as well asshotgun pellets.[92]
Badger-baiting was once a popularblood sport,[93] in which badgers were captured alive, placed in boxes, and attacked with dogs.[94] In the UK, this was outlawed by theCruelty to Animals Act 1835[94] and again by theProtection of Animals Act 1911.[95] Moreover, the cruelty towards and killing of the badger constitute offences under theProtection of Badgers Act 1992 (c. 51),[96] and further offences under this act are inevitably committed to facilitate badger-baiting (such as interfering with a sett, or the taking or the very possession of a badger for purposes other than nursing an injured animal to health). If convicted, badger-baiters may face a sentence of up to six months in jail, a fine of up to £5,000, and other punitive measures, such ascommunity service or a ban from owning dogs.[97]
Many badgers inEurope were gassed during the 1960s and 1970s to controlrabies.[98] Until the 1980s,badger culling in the United Kingdom was undertaken in the form of gassing, to control the spread ofbovine tuberculosis (bTB). Limited culling resumed in 1998 as part of a 10-year randomized trial cull which was considered byJohn Krebs and others to show that culling was ineffective. Some groups called for a selective cull,[99] while others favoured a programme of vaccination, and vets support the cull on compassionate grounds as they say that the illness causes much suffering in badgers.[99] In 2012, the government authorized a limited cull[100] led by theDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), however, this was later deferred with a wide range of reasons given.[101] In August 2013, a full culling programme began where about 5,000 badgers were killed over six weeks in WestSomerset andGloucestershire by marksmen with high-velocity rifles using a mixture of controlled shooting and free shooting (some badgers were trapped in cages first). The cull caused many protests with emotional, economic and scientific reasons being cited. The badger is considered an iconic species of the British countryside, though is not endangered. It was claimed by shadow ministers that "The government's own figures show it will cost more than it saves...", and Lord Krebs, who led the Randomised Badger Culling Trial in the 1990s, said the two pilots "will not yield any useful information".[102] A scientific study of culling from 2013 to 2017 has shown a reduction of 36–55% incidence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle.[3]
A tame orphan badger with keeperA hand reared European badger shown at the celebration of theNational Day of Sweden
There are several accounts of European badgers being tamed. Tame badgers can be affectionate pets, and can be trained to come to their owners when their names are called. They are easily fed, as they are not fussy eaters, and will instinctively unearth rats, moles and young rabbits without training, though they do have a weakness for pork. Although there is one record of a tame badger befriending a fox, they generally do not tolerate the presence of cats and dogs, and will chase them.[103][dubious –discuss]
Badger meat is eaten in some districts of the former Soviet Union, though in most cases it is discarded.[91]Smoked hams made from badgers were once highly esteemed in England, Wales and Ireland.[104]
Some badger products have been used for medical purposes; badger expert Ernest Neal, quoting from an 1810 edition ofThe Sporting Magazine, wrote;
The flesh, blood and grease of the badger are very useful for oils, ointments, salves and powders, for shortness of breath, the cough of the lungs, for the stone, sprained sinews, collachs etc. The skin being well dressed is very warm and comfortable for ancient people who are troubled with paralytic disorders.[104]
The hair of the European badger has been used for centuries for makingsporrans[104] andshaving brushes.[93][105] Sporrans are traditionally worn as part of male Scottishhighland dress. They form a bag or pocket made from apelt and a badger or other animal's mask may be used as a flap.[106] The pelt was also formerly used forpistol furniture.[93]
^"Badger".Geiriadur: Welsh-English / English-Welsh On-line Dictionary. University of Wales: Trinity Saint David. Retrieved2013-10-05.
^Linnaeus, C. (1758)."Ursus meles".Caroli Linnæi Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Vol. Tomus I (decima, reformata ed.). Holmiae: Laurentius Salvius. p. 48.(in Latin)
^Graells, M. de la P. (1897)."Meles Taxus. (Schreb.)".Fauna Mastodológica Ibérica. Memorias de la Real Academia de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales de Madrid. Vol. 17. Madrid. pp. 170–173.
^Raichev, E. (2010). "Adaptability to locomotion in snow conditions of fox, jackal, wild cat, badger in the region of Sredna Gora, Bulgaria".Trakia Journal of Sciences.8 (2):499–505.
^Polly, P. D. & MacLeod, N. (2008). "Locomotion in fossil Carnivora: an application of eigensurface analysis for morphometric comparison of 3D surfaces".Palaeontologia Electronica.11 (2):10–13.
^Delahay, R. J.; Carter, S. P.; Forrester, G. J.; Mitchell, A.; Cheeseman, C. L. (2006). "Habitat correlates of group size, bodyweight and reproductive performance in a high-density Eurasian badger (Meles meles) population".Journal of Zoology.270 (3):437–447.doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00165.x.
^Abramov, A. V.; Puzachenko, A. Yu. (2013). "The taxonomic status of badgers (Mammalia, Mustelidae) from Southwest Asia based on cranial morphometrics, with the redescription ofMeles canescens".Zootaxa.3681 (1):44–58.doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3681.1.2.PMID25232583.
^Schmid, T. K.; Roper, T. J.; Christian, S. E.; Ostler, J.; Conradt, L. & Butler, J. (1993). "Territorial marking with faeces in badgers (Meles meles): a comparison of boundary and hinterland latrine use".Behaviour.127 (3–4):289–307.doi:10.1163/156853993X00074.S2CID22043004.
^Gallagher, J. & Clifton-Hadley, R. S. (2005). "Tuberculosis in badgers; a review of the disease and its significance for other animals".Research in Veterinary Science.69 (3):203–217.doi:10.1053/rvsc.2000.0422.PMID11124091.S2CID12245569.
^abSidorovich, V. E., Rotenko, I. I., & Krasko, D. A. (2011, March).BadgerMeles meles spatial structure and diet in an area of low earthworm biomass and high predation risk. In Annales Zoologici Fennici (Vol. 48, No. 1, pp. 1–16). Finnish Zoological and Botanical Publishing.
^Olsson, O., Wirtberg, J., Andersson, M., & Wirtberg, I. (1997).WolfCanis lupus predation on mooseAlces alces and roe deerCapreolus capreolus in south-central Scandinavia. Wildlife biology, 3(1), 13–25.
^Palomares, F., & Caro, T. M. (1999).Interspecific killing among mammalian carnivores. The American Naturalist, 153(5), 492–508.
^Watson, J. (2010).The golden eagle. Poyser Monographs; A&C Black.
^Sørensen, O. J., Totsås, M., Solstad, T., & Rigg, R. (2008).Predation by a golden eagle on a brown bear cub. Ursus, 19(2), 190–193.
^Korpimäki, E., & Norrdahl, K. (1989).Avian predation on mustelids in Europe 1: occurrence and effects on body size variation and life traits. Oikos, 205–215.
Heptner, V. G.; Sludskii, A. A. (2001)."BadgerMeles meles Linnaeus, 1758".Mammals of the Soviet Union. Vol. II, Part 1b, Carnivores (Mustelidae and Procyonidae). Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Libraries and National Science Foundation. pp. 1232–1282.ISBN90-04-08876-8.
König, C. (1973).Mammals. London: William Collins.ISBN0-00-212080-1.
Waarneming.nl Originally a Dutch site, but you can change language at the top of the page. Sightings, pictures and distribution maps of European badgers in the Netherlands.
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