The American Badger (Taxidea taxus) is a native mammal of Missouri, belonging to the weasel family, Mustelidae. While many residents may never encounter one, the species is present. Historically, their population status was considered restricted, but recent research suggests the badger population within the state is healthy and stable.
Geographic Range and Habitat in Missouri
The distribution of the American Badger across Missouri is not uniform, with observations concentrated in the northern and western counties, such as the Central Dissected Till Plains and the Osage Plains regions. Badgers prefer open habitats like native prairies, grasslands, and agricultural fields.
These areas feature the friable or sandy soil necessary for rapid excavation and hunting burrowing prey. Badgers are considered rare in the heavily forested Ozark region, where the rocky terrain is unsuitable for their lifestyle.
Badgers establish a home range of approximately one to two and a half square miles. Habitat selection is dictated by the availability of prey and the type of ground that permits intensive digging.
Distinctive Physical Characteristics
The American Badger possesses a physique well-suited for its subterranean existence. They have a heavy, broad, and flattened body with short, powerful legs, giving them a low-slung appearance. Adult badgers typically weigh between 13 and 30 pounds and measure 26 to 35 inches in total length.
Their most distinguishing features are concentrated on the face and forelimbs. The face is marked by a distinct pattern of black and white patches, including a white stripe that runs from the nose to the back of the head. This facial mask helps differentiate them from other Missouri mustelids like raccoons or skunks.
The front feet are equipped with exceptionally long, curved claws that are not retractable. These claws function as specialized tools for digging, allowing the badger to move massive amounts of earth quickly. This powerful physical adaptation enables them to pursue prey directly into their burrows.
Ecology, Diet, and Burrowing Habits
Badgers are solitary animals, with the exception of the mating season, and are primarily nocturnal. They are carnivorous predators whose lifestyle is intrinsically linked to their exceptional ability to excavate soil. This digging prowess allows them to create shelters and, more importantly, to hunt their main food sources.
The diet of the American Badger in Missouri consists mostly of small burrowing rodents, such as ground squirrels, pocket gophers, and various species of mice. They will actively dig into the tunnels of their prey, sometimes plugging accessory entrances to trap the animal within the system.
Their speed is remarkable; a badger can dig faster than a person using a shovel, often disappearing underground in less than a minute. Burrowing is a constant activity for the badger, which uses its strong forelimbs and claws to loosen the dirt and its hind feet to kick the soil backward.
They utilize these excavations for temporary cover, especially during the day, and for more substantial dens to raise their young. The presence of a badger is often indicated by the large, distinct mounds of soil left outside a newly dug burrow entrance.