Badgers are largely nocturnal, medium-sized carnivores in the weasel family (Mustelidae). Badgers are distinctive diggers with long claws on short, powerful legs. Badgers have distinctive facial markings: black patches interspersed with white lines, including a white line extending from the nose back over the head. Fur color ranges from greyish to yellow brown.
Measurements for this species from several difference sources (click here to go to that page) are listed below.
Total length ranged from 27.6” to 31.5” (700-800 mm) in the Eastern United States. Male total length ranged from 28.5” to 33.9” (725-860 mm) in Minnesota, and female total length ranged from 28.0” to 30.7” (710-780 mm) in Minnesota.
Tail length ranged from 4.7” to 6.1” (120-155 mm) in the Eastern United States. Male tail length ranged from 5.1” to 7.5” (130-190 mm) in Minnesota, and female tail length ranged from 4.3” to 6.2” (110-157 mm) in Minnesota.
Body weight ranged from 15 lb to 25 lb (6.8-11.4 kg) in the Eastern United States. Male body weight ranged from 13.7 lb to 24.7 lb (6.2-11.2 kg) in Minnesota, and female body weight ranged from 11.7 lb to 20.1 lb (5.3-9.1 kg) in Minnesota.
Males are significantly larger than females.
Badgers are found in largely treeless prairies, parklands, farmlands, and deserts. Badgers range from southern Canada through Great Lakes states, Great Plains states, Western states, south into central Mexico. Regionally, badgers are found throughout the Great Lakes states. Populations are regionally secure or apparently secure in U.S. Great Lakes states, and imperiled in Ontario.
Worldwide, Taxidea taxus is restricted to North America. Taxidea taxus is the sole representative of the Taxidea genus, and the only badger found in the New World. Badgers are found throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Badgers have an IUCN rank of Least Concern, IUCN information.