Badgers are one of Oklahoma’s most iconic mammals, but they are also one of their least understood. Belonging to the Weasel family and sporting a grey coat speckled with white and black markings, the badger is an impressive creature that lives in Oklahoma’s many grassland ecosystems.
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Habitat
Badgers are among the many unique inhabitants of Oklahoma. Found in the western portions of the state, badgers primarily populate agricultural regions due to their need for deep soil which they can easily burrow and make into their home. These areas provide just the right kind of terrain with plenty of room to dig, giving them plenty of warm shelters.
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 in Oklahoma 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
In Oklahoma, badgers can be found with yellow-tinted fur. It’s an unusual look which provides camouflage against their environment and makes them difficult to spot in their natural habitat.
Size, Lifespan and Weight
Badgers in Oklahoma 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 in Oklahoma 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 in Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma
The carnivorous badger (Taxidea taxus) can be found hunting its primary prey, burrowing rodents, in plains and upland areas throughout western and central Oklahoma. Of particular interest to nature lovers is the oak-and-blackjack forests area, where badgers make their home due to the abundance of different critters they can prey on.
Do badgers live in Oklahoma?
Yes, badgers live in Oklahoma
Are there badgers and groundhogs in Stillwater Oklahoma
Yes, they live in Stillwater Oklahoma. Get help from professional animal catchers to get rid of them.
Are there honey badgers in Oklahoma?
“Yes,” although sightings of them are extremely rare. Honey badgers, also known as ratels, are native to parts of Africa and Asia and inhabit warm desert climates, so they’re not typically seen in Oklahoma’s woodlands or arid plains.
Can you kill badgers in Oklahoma?
Yes, if you have a license from Oklahoma Hunting regulations.
Is it illegal to shoot a badger in Oklahoma?
Yes, if hunting is done without a license. However, you can get a license from Oklahoma Hunting regulations before badger hunting.
References:
https://a-z-animals.com/animals/location/north-america/united-states/oklahoma/
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