1.1 Ratel or Honey Badger (Mellivora capensis)

Closely related to the Eurasian badger, the South African form is said to rob the bees of their honey. The male and female are seldom seen together, and are supposed to trace each other by the odour of the secretion in the anal glandA gland is an organ in an animal's body that synthesizes a substance for release, often into the bloodstream ( endocrine gland) or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface ( exocrine gland). Humans have a large variety of glands, from the pituits.

2 Taxidiinae subfamily

2.1 American Badger (Taxidea taxus)

The American badger ranges over the greater part of the western and central United StatesThe United States of America also referred to as the United States U. America ¹ or the States is a federal republic in central North America, stretching from the Atlantic in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west. It shares land borders with Canada in as well as northern MexicoThis article is about the country Mexico. For other meanings, see Mexico (disambiguation The United Mexican States or Mexico ( Spanish: Estados Unidos Mexicanos or Mexico regarding the use of the variant spelling Mejico see section The name below) is a co and southern CanadaCanada historically the Dominion of Canada is the second-largest, and northernmost, country in the world. It is a decentralized federation of 10 provinces and 3 territories, governed as a constitutional monarchy, and formed in 1867 through an act of Confe. Like the Eurasian badger it is a powerful digger, but some of its behaviors differ from those of its relatives.

T. taxus is more carnivorousCarnivores are animals that eat a diet consisting mostly of meat. Also, the word could refer to the mammals of the Order Carnivora, many (but not all) of which fit the first definition. Here is a list below that includes animals that are unable to chew an than the Meles species, and does not inhabit a permanent sett, or hole. Unless it is courting or rearing young, the American badger lives apart from others of its kind. It hunts, wanders and sleeps in temporary burrows within a given territory, often inhabiting holes excavated by other animals and sometimes even sharing space with the original tenants.

3 Badgers and Humans

The badger's skill at digging has led to folk beliefs that the animal's paws give good luck in childbirth. The Pueblo peopleThe Pueblo People are a group of Native Americans who live in New Mexico and in Arizona. When first encountered by the Spanish in the 1500s they were living in adobe and stonework towns, mainly in the Rio Grande valley and thus were called "Pueblos," pueb consider the badger great healers and believe them to be intimately connected to their shamans. Japanese legends include shapeshifting badgers.

The badger does not usually seek to attack, but, when driven to bay, its great muscular power and tough hide render it a formidable antagonist. Consequently the animals were used in the cruel sport of badger-baiting.

Badgers are listed in Appendix III of the Berne Convention, but are not otherwise the subject of any international treaty or legislation. Badgers are hunted in many countries, either as a perceived pest, or for sport. Many badger setts in Europe were gassed during the 1960s and 70s to control rabies.

3.1 Badger Digging

Badger digging is the process of digging a badger out of its set. Terriers or dachshunds (dogs) are used to locate the badger in the tunnel, after which the diggers attempt to dig down to the badger. If the badger tries to dig to escape, the dog will attack. Sometimes radio transmitters are attached to the dog to help in its location. The captured badger may sometimes be released elsewhere, but is more often killed or used in badger baiting.

4 See also

• Recently, badgers were also the subject of badger badger badger, a popular internet meme.

5 External links

• Steve Jackson's Badger Pages

Mustelids

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