Speaking of badgers, what may come to our mind is a mottled face, a round body and an aura of "I'm very good at fighting". Badgers are mammals, belonging to the Mustelidae family, and are relatives of weasels and stoats.

They are sturdy, about 50 to 70 cm long, weighing about 5 to 10 kg, with thick hair and a black and white striped face, which can be said to be its trademark.

Where do badgers live? It turns out they are everywhere

Badgers' homes are all over Eurasia. They like moist and well-drained land, especially forests, bushes, and some quiet farmland and suburban green spaces. Whether it is mountains, semi-deserts, or even around our human villages, their caves may be hidden. Usually they don't live too high, and the altitude is generally not more than 1,700 meters.

What are the abilities of badgers? Digging while eating is its style

Don’t be fooled by their round and fat appearance, badgers are natural “architects” and “foodies”. They are particularly good at digging holes, and can easily carry several cubic meters of soil to build a “badger castle” with multiple rooms. These caves are not only used for rest and reproduction, but also used all year round and passed down from generation to generation.

In terms of food, badgers are omnivores, and they love small mammals, birds, insects, plant roots and fruits. They love to eat berries and insects in summer, and rely on stored food in winter. They usually come out to forage in the evening or at night, and rest quietly in the cave during the day.

Do badgers have families? They are not loners

We may think that badgers are solitary animals, but in fact, most of them live in groups, and several individuals can live in one cave, sometimes even a small “tribe”. Badgers communicate with each other using various sounds and smells, and the scent glands on their tails can secrete liquid with individual odors to mark their territory.

Badgers are also very protective of their homes. They are extremely wary of strange intruders and will defend themselves with sharp calls and aggressive postures when necessary. In the cold winter, they will not hibernate, but they will also reduce their activities and stay in the cave for a long time to keep warm.

The value of badgers? Not only ecological "builders"

Badgers are of great significance to the ecosystem. Their burrowing behavior can improve soil structure and sometimes provide space for other animals to live. As omnivores, they also help control the number of small animals and insects and maintain ecological balance.

But sometimes badgers can also cause some minor troubles to humans, such as digging holes to damage farmland or infrastructure, or spread certain livestock diseases. Therefore, while we protect them, we also need scientific management.

Badger's relatives and classification are also very particular

According to the latest research, there are currently four confirmed members of the badger genus: European badger, Asian badger, Japanese badger and Southwest Asian badger. These badgers have slight differences in appearance, such as fur color and skull structure. Scientists have found through fossil analysis that the ancestors of badgers existed millions of years ago and have not changed much, indicating that their way of survival is very successful.

Being friends with badgers, we understand nature better

Badgers may not be as popular as pandas, but they are our little neighbors that cannot be ignored. Understanding badgers means we are closer to nature and understand the complex and delicate balance in the ecology.

Lykkers, have you ever seen this mysterious little creature when you were walking at night? Welcome to share your unexpected encounter with badgers, let us protect these low-key and cute "hole digging masters" together!