Badgers are stout, medium-sized carnivores belonging to the Mustelidae family, which also includes weasels and otters. These mammals are highly adapted for a fossorial, or burrowing, lifestyle, characterized by a flattened, stocky build and short, powerful legs. Their most distinctive physical features are long, non-retractile claws on their front feet, specialized for excavating soil, and prominent facial markings, typically dark stripes contrasted with lighter fur. They use these features to dig complex underground den systems, known as setts, for shelter and to pursue prey.
Understanding Badger Diversity
The term “badger” is a common name applied to multiple distinct evolutionary lineages, meaning they do not belong to a single taxonomic group. These species are spread across several genera and even two different biological families, reflecting a phenomenon known as convergent evolution. The major badger groups are broadly separated by their native continents: the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa.
In the family Mustelidae alone, badgers are categorized into multiple subfamilies, including the Taxidiinae, Melinae, and Mellivorinae. Examining the specific range of each major continental group is necessary to understand where badgers are native to.
The Native Range of the American Badger
The single species native to the Western Hemisphere is the American Badger (Taxidea taxus), a mammal specialized for life in open country. Its native range extends from the south-central provinces of Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan) southward through the continental United States. This distribution covers the western, central, and northeastern regions of the U.S., including the Great Plains and parts of the Midwest.
The range continues south into Northern Mexico, reaching states like Puebla and Baja California. This species prefers relatively dry, treeless habitats, such as plains, prairies, open grasslands, and cold deserts, where the soil is friable and easy to dig. Their habitat selection is directly tied to the availability of burrowing rodents, which form the primary component of their diet.
They are capable of rapidly tunneling through various soil types to hunt prey or construct their dens. The American Badger is considered a solitary animal and is an important predator of ground squirrels and gophers.
Distribution Across Eurasia and Africa
The Old World is home to a wide variety of badgers, encompassing several distinct genera. The European Badger (Meles meles) has a broad distribution across Europe, from the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula eastward through Russia and into parts of Western Asia. This species is adaptable, inhabiting environments from deciduous forests and mixed woodlands to agricultural fields and urban peripheries.
The genus Meles includes the Asian Badger (Meles leucurus), native to Central and East Asia, and the Japanese Badger (Meles anakuma), found exclusively in Japan. Other Asian badgers include the Hog badgers (Arctonyx) and Ferret badgers (Melogale), which are distributed throughout Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
The Honey Badger, or Ratel (Mellivora capensis), represents the African contingent. Its range covers most of sub-Saharan Africa, extending north into the Middle East and eastward into parts of the Indian subcontinent. This species is terrestrial and occupies a diverse array of habitats, including savannas, forests, and mountainous areas.