Habitat and Behavior

For most of the year, the badger's home is a shallow burrow about one foot in diameter. During the breeding season, a deeper burrow is built, usually from five to thirty feet in length, leading to an enlarged area about two to three feet below the ground's surface.

Badgers usually spend their lives within an area of one or two square miles. If food is scarce, they may cover a much wider territory.

Badgers are usually active at night, but occasionally in the early morning or late evening they may be seen near the entrance to their burrows. In the winter, badgers spend most of their time sleeping, but they do not hibernate. Badgers often travel in search of hibernating animals during the winter months. When a badger finds a hibernating animal, it digs the animal up and devours it, then returns to its burrow for another period of sleep.

Badgers are excellent diggers. They can dig at a faster rate than a man can dig with a shovel.

Signs

The most prominent sign of the presence of a badger is evidence of digging. Where badgers are abundant, their burrows are numerous.

Pest Tips

Suggested Bait: Meat that has become tainted but not spoiled, freshly killed ground squirrels, rabbits and other small rodents.

Suggested Lure: Fish oil, natural gland lures.

Set cage traps, like Kness’ Kage-All® Small Animal Trap, to either side of the den. Conceal traps with loose dirt and avoid leaving odors while setting.

When a badger has been digging numerous holes, and the actual den is unknown, use a baited trap. Put a piece of tainted meat or freshly killed ground squirrel in a concealed trap at the side of the hole. Place a drop or two of badger gland lure next to the opening to insure that the badger will investigate the trap.

Stake the trap so that the trapped badger cannot tip the trap over and release itself.

While there are many different species of badgers worldwide, from the notably tough honey badger to the tiny ferret-badgers, only one species is found in North America. That is the justly named American badger.

With a range extending from Mexico to Canada, the American Badger is a hearty animal that is known for its small, low stature and big claws for digging burrows. This species typically inhabits grasslands and prairie regions but will move to wherever prey is available.

What You Need To Know About The American Badger

• What do American badgers look like?

  • They have a short, stocky body that's low to the ground

  • Short legs

  • Large foreclaws (up to 5 cm)

  • Gray fur on their body

  • Black, white, and gray facial and head markings

  • Tiny ears

• What do American badgers eat?

  • They're mainly carnivores

  • They prey on ground squirrels, pocket gophers, moles, marmots, prairie dogs, woodrats, voles, snakes, and other underground animals

  • In some situations, they'll eat plant food such as corn, beans, mushrooms, and sunflower seeds

• Where do American badgers live?

  • The badger prefers open areas, living in the prairies and plains where ground squirrels, prairie dogs, and other burrowing animals, which are their food source, are abundant

What You Need To Know About The American Badger Infestations

• What are the signs of an American badger infestation?

  • The most prominent sign of the presence of a badger is evidence of digging

  • Burrows about one foot in diameter

  • Where badgers are abundant, their burrows are numerous

  • Sightings of them during dawn or dusk (they’re mainly nocturnal)

• Why do American badgers invade my property?

  • Prey food is abundant in the vicinity 

  • The soil conditions (soft loam soils) are favorable for making a good den

• How do I get rid of American badgers?

  • Call in a pest professional

  • Trapping with a live trap such as the Kness Kage-All® Small Animal Trap

Tips To Prevent American Badger

• Install fencing around the perimeter of your yard

  • Sink fencing around 24 inches below the ground

• Place live traps for prey animals of the badger such as rodents, ground squirrels, etc. 

• Light up your yard, as badgers prefer to hunt in the dark

To take care of your badger problems, Kness has the right control solutions for you to utilize. 

Set cage traps, like Kness’ Kage-All® Small Animal Trap, to either side of the den. Conceal traps with loose dirt and avoid leaving odors while setting. Stake the trap so that the trapped badger cannot tip the trap over and release itself.

When a badger has been digging numerous holes, and the actual den is unknown, use a baited trap. Put a piece of tainted meat or freshly killed ground squirrel in a concealed trap at the side of the hole. Place a drop or two of the badger gland lure next to the opening to ensure that the badger will investigate the trap.

Suggested Bait: Meat that has become tainted but not spoiled, freshly killed ground squirrels, rabbits, and other small rodents.

Suggested Lure: Fish oil or natural gland lures.