Idaho is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including the impressive American Badger. The cute and burly badger can be found in many shades of brown and grey roaming across the state’s various grasslands, chaparral, shrub steppe, and other habitats.
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Habitat
Badgers are a unique species that can be found in Idaho. Their habitat is very diverse and can range from open plains with minimal vegetation to prairies and even cold deserts. Badgers are incredibly adaptable animals capable of living in a variety of climates, making them well-suited for their homes in the northern region of our great state.
Diet
Badgers are omnivores, meaning that they eat both plants and animals to get their nutrients. Their diet consists of insects, small animals like rodents, birds, eggs and reptiles, as well as a variety of plant matter such as fruits, roots, tubers and grasses. Badgers also enjoy a range of other food items like earthworms and even deer carcasses they come across in the wild. To hunt effectively in their nocturnal lifestyle, badgers have strong front claws and sharp teeth which they use to take down their prey. All these sources of food allow badgers to stay healthy in their diverse habitats throughout the world.
Colour
Badgers in Idaho are famous for their impressive colouring, these formidable creatures boast a unique white stripe from nose to neck or back that makes them instantly recognizable in the wilderness. Plus, the shaggy fur of Idaho badgers ranges from yellow-brown to silver-grey on their backs and light cream to buff on their stomachs – making them quite a sight when spotted sunning themselves in the foothills.
Size, Lifespan and Weight
Badgers are usually between 24-30 inches in length, have an average weight of roughly 15-25 pounds, and can live for up to 9 years in the wild. However, some badger species can live up to 16 years in captivity.
Predators
Badgers face numerous predators in the wild, but their main enemy is the fox. Studies have shown that foxes are responsible for up to 90% of badger cub mortality and can be particularly aggressive during the spring cubbing season. Other wild predators include coyotes, wolves, raptors such as golden eagles and red-tailed hawks, dogs, weasels and various snakes.
Reproduction
Badgers reproduce by mating with the opposite sex, typically after a courtship period.
When successful mating has occurred, the female badger will produce a litter of three or four cubs approximately seven weeks later. The cubs are born blind and helpless, relying entirely on the care and protection of their parents.
They are weaned between 6-8 weeks after birth and will live in the same den until they are independent enough to move out and find their own territory at around eight months of age. Although badgers can mate year-round, most litters are born during spring or early summer so that the cubs can take advantage of warmer weather and an abundance of food resources before winter arrives.
Are there badgers in Idaho?
Yes, badgers are present in Idaho. They are present in open plains with minimal vegetation prairies and even cold deserts.
Do badgers live in Idaho?
Yes, badgers are present in Idaho
Is it legal to kill badgers in Idaho?
As per Idaho Government, Badgers can be hunted or trapped and they fall under predatory wildlife
Zahra Makda
Growing up enjoying the beauty of my village, a good passion for nature developed in me from childhood. Following my passion for the natural world, I have chosen zoology for my graduation, during my undergraduate degree, I participated in many nature trails, bird watching, rescues, training for wildlife conservation, workshop, and seminars on biodiversity. I have a keen interest in invertebrate biology, herpetology, and ornithology. Primary interests include studies on taxonomy, ecology, habitat and behavior.
