Young Badger, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon
Copyright © 1996, Don Baccus (dhogaza@pacifier.com)
Young Badger, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon
Copyright © 1996, Don Baccus (dhogaza@pacifier.com)
Copyright © 1995, Don Baccus
All images copyright © 1995, Don Baccus
Badger, while fairly common, are difficult to find. These largely nocturnal creatures spend most of the daylight hours underground in their burrows. After giving birth, mothers frequently move their young to new burrows, and in winter they dig out ground squirrels. So, finding the large, flattened openings to their burrows is no guarantee that there's a badger anywhere nearby.
Badger are persecuted by local ranchers as their burrows are a hazard to livestock. This in turn has impacted burrowing owl populations, as these owls don't actually dig their own burrows but make use of abandoned badger burrows and highway culverts.
Good luck! I've only seen live badger once in southeast Oregon, though I've seen several which have been killed by cars. If you do find an active badger burrow, drop everything and take advantage of your good fortune. The young badger photographed below was part of a litter of three that were found by local birders, who were kind enough to inform me of the location of the burrow.
Since I've only seen live badger once in the area, the location in which the following photographs were taken is, of course, my favorite! This family was discovered just north of the intersection of State Highway 205 with the road which leads to Krumbo Reservoir and Benson Pond. I have also heard badgers in active burrows alongside State Highway 205 where it climbs the bluff overlooking the small town of Frenchglen.