The badger is found primarily in the great plains region of North America. The species has expanded its range greatly since the turn of the century, and it is now found as far east as Ontario, Canada.

Badgers are found principly in dry, open country.

Badgers measure 520-875mm from head to tail, with the tail making up only 100-155 mm of this length. The body is flattened, and the legs are short and stocky. The fur on the back and flanks of the animal ranges from grayish to reddish. The ventrum is a buffy color. The face of the badger is distinct. The throat and chin are whitish, and the face has black patches. A white dorsal stripe extends back over the head from the nose. In northern populations, this stripe ends near the shoulders. In southern populations, however, it continues over the back to the rump.

Badgers are solitary animals. Typical population density is about 5 animals per square kilometer. Males occupy larger home ranges than females (2.4 versus 1.6 square kilometers), but this species is not known to defend an exclusive territory. Badgers are mainly active at night, and tend to be inactive during the winter months. The badger is an excellent digging machine. Its powerfully built forelimbs allow it to tunnel rapidly through the soil, and aparently through other harder substances as well. There are anecdotal accounts of badgers emerging from holes they have excavated through blacktopped pavement and two inch thick concrete.

Their burrows are constructed mainly in the pursuit of prey, but they are also used for sleeping. A typical badger den may be as far a 3 meters below the surface, contain about 10 meters of tunnels, and have an enlarged chamber for sleeping. Badgers use multiple burrows within their home range, and they may not use the same burrow more than once a month.

The badger subsists on a diet of small mammals, birds, reptiles and arthropods. Unlike many carnivores that stalk their prey in open country, the badger catches most of its food by digging. It can tunnel after ground dwelling rodents with amazing speed.

Unfortunately, badger burrows often present a hazzard to cattle and horses. Such animals have been known to break legs by misstepping into a badger hole. Historical accounts from Illinios indicate that when a prize stallion tripped in a badger hole and subsequently had to be put down, the bounty on badgers was raised.

Badgers provide humans with some service because of their diet. Badgers eat many rodent pests, which may carry disease or damage crops. In addition, their burrows provide shelter for small game mammals, like cotton tailed rabbits. The fur is attractive. It has been used as a trim on many Native American garments, and historically it was used to make shaving brushes.