Where does the European badger live?
The European badger lives across most of Europe, in West Asia and parts of Central Asia. The boundary with the Asian badger is the Volga River. In the UK it is the only badger species, and is simply known as "the badger". It lives in burrows with multiple chambers and entrances, extensive systems of underground passages measuring 35 to 81 m. Several badger families use the same setts for decades.
What does the European badger eat?
The badger is omnivorous, nocturnal and social. It sleeps during the day in one of the setts within its territory. Its gut is longer than that of the red fox, reflecting its omnivorous diet. Its strong, elongated claws, with a blunt end, make digging easier. It has a powerful, stocky body, a small head, small black eyes, a short tail and a coat of black, white, brown and grey fur.
Is the European badger endangered?
No: the IUCN lists it as Least Concern, thanks to its wide range and large, stable population, thought to be increasing in some regions. The badger population in Great Britain was estimated at 300,000 in 2012.
