Badger
Identification
The badger (Taxidea taxus) is a stocky, medium-sized mammal with a broad head, a short, thick neck, short legs, and a short, bushy tail. Its front legs are stout and muscular, and its front claws are long. It is silver-gray, has long guard hairs, a black patch on each cheek, black feet, and a characteristic white stripe extending from its nose over the top of its head. The length of this stripe down the back varies. Badgers may weigh up to 30 pounds (13.5 kg), but average about 19 pounds (8.6 kg) for males and 14 pounds (6.3 kg) for females. Eye-shine at night is green.
Habitat
Badgers prefer open country with light to moderate cover, such as pastures and range-lands inhabited by burrowing rodents. They are seldom found in areas that have many trees.
Food Habits
Badgers are opportunists, preying on ground-nesting birds and their eggs, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Common dietary items are ground squirrels, pocket gophers, prairie dogs, and other smaller rodents. Occasionally they eat vegetable matter. Metabolism studies indicate that an average badger must eat about two ground squirrels or pocket gophers daily to maintain its weight. Badgers may occasionally kill small lambs and young domestic turkeys, parts of which they often will bury.
General Biology, Reproduction, and Behavior
Badgers are members of the weasel family and have the musky odor characteristic of this family. They are especially adapted for burrowing, with strong front legs equipped with long, well-developed claws. Their digging capability is used to pursue and capture ground-dwelling prey. Typical burrows dug in pursuit of prey are shallow and about 1 foot (30 cm) in diameter. A female badger will dig a deeper burrow (5 to 30 feet long [1.5 to 9 m]) with an enlarged chamber 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 m) below the surface in which to give birth. Dens usually have a single, often elliptical entrance, typically marked by a mound of soil in the front.
Badgers have a rather ferocious appearance when confronted, and often make short charges at an intruder. They may hiss, growl, or snarl when fighting or cornered. Their quick movements, loose hide, muscular body, and tendency to retreat quickly into a den provide protection from most predators. Larger predators such as mountain lions, bears, and wolves will kill adult badgers. Coyotes and eagles will take young badgers.
Badgers are active at night, remaining in dens during daylight hours, but are often seen at dawn or dusk. During winter they may remain inactive in their burrows for up to a month, although they are not true hibernators. Male badgers are solitary except during the mating season, and females are solitary except when mating or rearing young. Densities of badgers are reported to be about 1 per square mile (0.4/km 2) although densities as high as 5 to 15 badgers per square mile (1.9 to 5.8/km2) have been reported. An adult male’s home range may be as large as 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2); the home range of adult females is typically about half that size. Badgers may use as little as 10% of their range during the winter.
Badgers breed in summer and early fall, but have delayed implantation, with active gestation beginning around February. Some yearling females may breed, but yearling males do not. As many as 5 young, but usually 2 or 3, are born in early spring. Young nurse for 5 to 6 weeks, and they may remain with the female until midsummer. Most young disperse from their mother’s range and may move up to 32 miles (52 km). Badgers may live up to 14 years in the wild; a badger in a zoo lived to
be 15 1/2 years of age.
Damage and Damage Identification
Most damage caused by badgers results from their digging in pursuit of prey. Open burrows create a hazard to livestock and horseback riders. Badger diggings in crop fields may slow harvesting or cause damage to machinery. Digging can also damage earthen dams or dikes and irrigation canals, resulting in flooding and the loss of irrigation water. Diggings on the shoulders of roads can lead to erosion and the collapse of road surfaces. In late summer and fall, watch for signs of digging that indicate that young badgers have moved into the area.
Badgers will occasionally prey on livestock or poultry, gaining access to protected animals by digging under fences or through the floor of a poultry house. Tracks can indicate the presence of badgers, but to the novice, badger tracks may appear similar to coyote tracks. Claw marks are farther from the toe pad in badger tracks, however, and the front tracks have a pigeon-toed appearance.
Badgers usually consume all of a prairie dog except the head and the fur along the back. This characteristic probably holds true for much of their prey; however, signs of digging near the remains of prey are the best evidence of predation by a badger. Because badgers will kill black-footed ferrets, their presence is of concern in reintroduction programs for this endangered species. The Oklahoma Wildlife Control®, L.L.C., is a nuisance & predatory wildlife solutions and service company, with a number of specialties. However, OWC is not an animal rescue organization. If you have problems with domestic cats and dogs, we suggest that you contact your local animal shelter for assistance. Thank you.
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Office: (918) 739-4382
Very few companies in North America can claim to actually have someone on staff with over 25 years experience of providing professional wildlife removals and damage repair services by themselves.
No other wildlife removal company in Oklahoma has anyone on staff, with the experience and certifications achieved by Founder and Principle Owner, Reginald Murray.
Reginald Murray is a nationally known trapper and professional wildlife management services provider. His knowledge of trapping equipment, wildlife business ethics and professional techniques for the nuisance wildlife control industry is held in the highest regard by his own peers, and yes even his own local competition. He is one of the very few truly Professional Wildlife Control Operators in North America that has been published, and respectfully requested to review regulations before they are implemented.
His company co-owner, wife and partner, Jennifer Murray is also an Oklahoma Certified Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator, and she is the Founder of the Mended Fences Ranch Inc. Non-profit Livestock Rescue organization of Oklahoma.
The vast majority of the OK Wildlife Control, L.L.C. clientele ... comes to us AFTER other companies have failed to provide professional remediation a wildlife issue or situation.
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Beaver
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Beckham
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Blaine
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Bryan
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Caddo
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Cherokee
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Choctaw
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Cimarron
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Cleveland
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Coal
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Cotton
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Craig
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Creek
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Custer
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Delaware
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Dewey
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Ellis
Arnett -Athens -Austin -Benton -Day -Fargo -Gage -Grand -Greenwood -Hopewell -Ivanhoe -Jefferson -Little Robe -Morgan -Ohio -Oleta -Otter -Parkman -Rawdon -Rock -Shattuck -Sheldon -Woodrow
Garfield
Allison -Banner -Blaine -Breckenridge -Buffalo -Covington -Douglas -Drummond -Enid -Fairmont -Flynn -Garber -Garland -Grant -Hackberry -Hillsdale -Hobart -Hunter -Keowee –Kremlin- Lahoma -Lincoln -Logan -Marshall -McKinley -Noble -North Enid -Olive -Osborn -Otter -Patterson -Reed -Sheridan -Skeleton -Sumner -Union -Washington -Waukomis -Wood
Garvin
Brady -Elmore City -Lindsay -Maysville -Paoli -Paul’s Valley -Stratford -Walker -Whitebead -Wynnewood
Grady
Alex -Amber -Bradley -Chandler -Chickasha -Cross -Dutton -Harrison -Hillsboro -Lucile -Middleberg -Minco -Naples -Ninnekah -Pocasset -Prairie Valley -Pursley -Rush Springs -Shirley -Starr -Tabler -Tuttle -Union -Verden -Vincent -Waldron -Washington
Grant
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Greer
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Harmon
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Harper
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Haskell
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Hughes
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Jackson
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Jefferson
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Johnston
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Kay
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Kingfisher
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Kiowa
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Latimer
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Le Flore
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Lincoln
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Logan
Antelope -Bear Creek -Cedar -Coyle -Crescent -Guthrie -Iowa -Iron Mound -Langston -Lawrie -Le Baron –Marshall- Meridian -Mulhall -North Cimarron -Oak View -Orlando -Rose Hill -Seward -South Cimarron -Spring Creek -Springer -Springvale -Woodland
Love
Burney -Hickory -Leon -Marietta -Thackerville -Washington
Major
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Marshall
Holfrod -Kingston -Madill -Oakland -Odell -Taliaferro -Willis -Woodville
Mayes
Adair -Bryan -Center -Choteau -Hogan -Locust Grove -Mazie -Murphy -Pryor -Rider -River -Salina -Strang
McClain
Blanchard -Byars -Colbert -Goldsby -Hopping -Johnson -Muncrief -Perry -Purcell -Turnbull -Victor -Washington -Wayne
McCurtain
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McIntosh
Beck -Burton -Checotah -Cobb -Eufaula -Hanna -Hitchita -McDaniels -Rentiesville -Ryals -Simpson -Turner
Murray
Allen -Coyle -Davis -Dougherty -Hickory -Leeper -Lowrance -Morgan -Mosley -Sulphur -Tuerner
Muskogee
Agency -Boynton -Braggs -Brewer -Council Hill -Darling -Fort Gibson -Harris -Haskell -Martin -McLain -Moore -Muskogee -Nash -Ogle -Oktaha -Porum -Sutton -Taft -Vann -Wainwright -Warner -Webber Falls
Noble
Auburn -Autry -Billings -Black Bear -Bressie -Buffalo -Bunch Creek -Carson -Glenrose -Lowe -Marland -Missouri -Morrison -Noble -Oakdale -Otoe -Perry -Red Rock -Rock -Santa Fe -Sumner -Walnut -Warren Valley -Watkins -White Rock
Nowata
Alluwe -Armstrong -Delaware -Hickory -Lenapah -Nowata -Snow Creek -South Coffeyville -Wann -Watova
Okfuskee
Bearden -Boley -Castle -Creek -Hickory Ridge -Lester -Lincoln -Morse -Okemah -Okfuskee -Paden -Weleetka
Oklahoma
Bethany -Boone -Britton -Cass -Choctaw -Council Grove -Crutcho -Deep Fork -Deer Creek -Dewey -Edmond -Elk -Greeley -Harrah -Hartzell -Jones -Lincoln -Luther -Mustang -Oklahoma City -Pottawatomie -Spring Creek -Springer
Okmulgee
Bald Hill -Beggs -Bryan -Bryant -Dewar -Hamilton -Henry -Henryetta -Hoffman -Kusa -Morris -Natura -Okmulgee -Pascoe -Schulter -Severs -Tiger
Osage
Avant -Barnsdall -Big Hill -Bigheart -Black Dog -Burbank -Caney -Fairfax -Foraker -Grainola -Hominy -Nelagoney -Osage -Pawhuska -Shidler -Skiatook -Strike Axe -Webb -Wynona
Ottawa
Afton -Cardin -Commerce -Council House -Fairland -Miami -Narcissa -North Miami -Ottawa -Peoria -Picher -Quapaw -Wyandotte
Pawnee
Banner -Blackburn -Burnham -Cimarron -Cleveland -Coal Creek -Eagle -Hallett -House Creek -Jennings -Jordan Valley -Keystone Lake
Payne
Cherokee -Cimarron -Clarkson -Clayton -Clear Creek -Cushing -Eagle -Eden -Elm Grove -Glencoe -Henry -Indian -Mound -Paradise -Pawnee -Perkins -Quay -Ripley -Rose -Stillwater -Union -Yale
Pittsburg
Alderson -Ashland -Bucklucksy -Canadian -Crowder -Dow -Haileyville -Hartshorne -Indianaola -Kiowa -McAlester -Pittsburg -Quinton -Savanna -Ti
Pontotoc
Ada -Allen -Chickasaw -Fitzhugh -Francis -Maxwell -Midland -Roff -Stonewall
Pottawatomie
Asher -Avoca -Bales -Brinton -Burnett -Davis -Dent -Earlsboro -Eason -Forest -Maud -McLoud -Moore -Rock Creek -Saint Louis -Shawnee -Tecumseh -Wanette
Pushmataha
Albion -Antlers -Finley -Kiamichi -Kosoma -Tuskahoma
Roger Mills
Bar X -Berlin -Bowman -Cheyenne -Dewey -Hammon -Kiowa -Meridian -Reydon -Streeter -Strong -Washita -Wilcox
Rogers
Catoosa -Chelsea -Claremore -Collinsville -Foyil -Inola -Oawala -Oolagah -Talala -Verdigris
Seminole
Brown -Cromwell -Econtuchka -Konawa -Lima -Lincoln -Maud -Miller -Red Mound -Sasakwa -Seminole -Wewoka -Wolf
Sequoyah
Atkins -Blackgum -Brent -Campbell -Gans -Gore -Hanson -Long -Marble City -McKey -Moffett -Muldrow -Paw Paw -Prices Chapel -Redland -Rocky Mountain -Roland -Sadie -Sallisaw -Vian
Stephens
Brown -Comanche -Duncan -Hope -King -Loco -Marlow -McPherson -Parks -Richland -Rock Creek -Wall
Texas
Advance -Camp Keltner -Carthage -Dague -Eubank -Friendship -Frisco -Goodwell -Guymon -Hackberry -Hardesty -Hooker -Nabisco -Optima -Pleasant View -Range -Red Point -Sledgeville -Stratton -Tepee -Texhoma -Turney -Tyrone
Tillman
Alfalfa -Carr -Davidson -Frederick -Grandfield -Haskell -Hazel -Hollister -Holton -Hunter -Loveland -Maguire -Manitou -Red River -Richland -Stephens -Tipton
Tulsa
Bixby -Boles -Broken Arrow -Collinsville -Dawson -Fry -Glenpool -Jenks -Lynn Lane -Owasso -Red Fork -Sand Springs -Skiatook -Sperry -Tulsa -Wekiwa -Willow Springs
Wagoner
Adams Creek -Blue Mound -Cherokee -Coal Creek -Coweta -Creek -Gatesville -Lone Star -Okay -Porter -Redbird -Shahan -Shannon -Stone Bluff -Tullahassee -Wagoner
Washington
Bartlesville -Copan -Dewey -Jackson -Jefferson -Madison -Ochelata -Ramona -Vera
Washita
Bessie -Canute -Cordell -Dill City -Elk -Foss -Oakdale -Rainey -Rocky -Seger -Sentinel -Texas -Turkey Creek -Union
Woods
Alva -Avord -Belle -Capron -Cedar -Dacoma -Driftwood -Eagle -Elberta -Freedom -Fritzlen -Galena -Green Valley - Hopeton -Jefferson -Liberty -McKinley -OBryan -Patterson -Penn -Spring -Valley -Walnut Grove -Waynoka -Whitehorse -Yellowstone
Woodward
Cedardale -Center -Detroit -Garvey -Irwin -Jefferson -Liberty -McNeal -Mooreland -Mutual -Penn -Quinlan -Sharon -Supply -Union -Webster -Woodward