European badger range (also includes Caucasian badger range)
Synonyms
Ursus melesLinnaeus, 1758
The European badger (Meles meles), also known as the Eurasian badger, is a badger species in the family Mustelidae native to Europe and West Asia and parts of Central Asia. It is classified as least concern on the IUCN Red List, as it has a wide range and a large, stable population size which is thought to be increasing in some regions. Several subspecies are recognized, with the nominate subspecies (M. m. meles) predominating in most of Europe.[1] In Europe, where no other badger species commonly occurs, it is generally just called the "badger".
The European badger is a powerfully built, black, white, brown, and grey animal with a small head, a stocky body, small black eyes, and a short tail. Its weight varies, being 7–13 kg (15–29 lb) in spring, but building up to 15–17 kg (33–37 lb) in autumn before the winter sleep period. It is nocturnal and is a social, burrowing animal that sleeps during the day in one of several setts in its territorial range. These burrows have multiple chambers and entrances, and are extensive systems of underground passages of 35–81 m (115–266 ft) length. They house several badger families that use these setts for decades. Badgers are fussy over the cleanliness of their burrow, carrying in fresh bedding and removing soiled material, and they defecate in latrines strategically situated outside their setts or en route to other setts.[2]
Although classified as a carnivore, the European badger is an omnivore, feeding on a wide variety of plant and animal foods, including earthworms, large insects, small mammals, carrion, cereals, and tubers. Litters of up to five cubs are produced in spring. The young are weaned a few months later, but usually remain within the family group. The European badger has been known to share its burrow with other species, such as rabbits, red foxes, and raccoon dogs, but it can be ferocious when provoked, a trait which has been exploited in the now-illegal blood sport of badger-baiting. Badgers can be carriers of bovine tuberculosis, which also affects cattle. In England, badger populations are culled to try to reduce the incidence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle,[3] although the efficacy of this practice is strongly disputed,[4] and badger culls are widely considered cruel and inhumane.[5][6]
^ abKranz, A.; Abramov, A.V.; Herrero, J. & Maran, T. (2016). "Meles meles". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T29673A45203002. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T29673A45203002.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^Kilshaw K, Newman C, Buesching CD, Bunyan J, Macdonald DW (2009). "Coordinated latrine use by European badgers, Meles meles: Potential consequences for territory defense". Journal of Mammalogy. 90 (5): 1188–1198. doi:10.1644/08-MAMM-A-200.1. JSTOR 27755113. S2CID 86435009.
^Downs SH, Prosser A, Ashton A, Ashfield S, Brunton LA, Brouwer A, Upton P, Robertson A, Donnelly CA, Parry JE (October 2019). "Assessing effects from four years of industry-led badger culling in England on the incidence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle, 2013–2017". Scientific Reports. 9 (14666): 14666. Bibcode:2019NatSR...914666D. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-49957-6. PMC 6789095. PMID 31604960.
^Pallab Ghosh (11 October 2019). "Badger culls have varying impacts on cattle TB". BBC News. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
^James Tapsfield (28 February 2014). "Badger culls were 'cruel' and 'ineffective', says independent panel". The Independent. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
^"Badger cull poll: Nine out of ten want culling to end". Farming UK. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
The Europeanbadger (Meles meles), also known as the Eurasian badger, is a badger species in the family Mustelidae native to Europe and West Asia and...
species of mustelid badgers are grouped in four subfamilies: four species of Melinae (genera Meles and Arctonyx) including the Europeanbadger, five species...
The American badger (Taxidea taxus) is a North American badger similar in appearance to the Europeanbadger, although not closely related. It is found...
studies. This positions it as the third largest known badger, after the Europeanbadger and hog badger, and fourth largest extant terrestrial mustelid after...
in the Mediterranean Sea. The Caucasian badger was formerly thought to be a subspecies of the Europeanbadger (M. meles), along with the other subspecies...
Badger culling in the United Kingdom is permitted under licence, within a set area and timescale, as a way to reduce badger numbers in the hope of controlling...
the Korean Peninsula and Russia. The Asian badger is mostly lighter in colour than the Europeanbadger, though some forms may closely approach the former...
shares the genus Meles with its close relatives, the European (M. meles) and Asian (M. leucurus) badgers. In Japan, it is called by the name anaguma (穴熊)...
rivaling the Europeanbadger; However, hog badgers are not known to rival the weights of the Europeanbadger during autumn hyperphagia. A hog badger's appearance...
Stink badgers or false badgers are the species of the genus Mydaus of the skunk family of carnivorans, the Mephitidae. They resemble the better-known members...
to break open shellfish to eat. Martens are largely arboreal, while Europeanbadgers dig extensive tunnel networks, called setts. Only one mustelid has...
The European pine marten (Martes martes), also known as the pine marten, is a mustelid native to and widespread in most of Europe, Asia Minor, the Caucasus...
The European wildcat (Felis silvestris) is a small wildcat species native to continental Europe, Scotland, Turkey and the Caucasus. It inhabits forests...
basin and the semi-aquatic African clawless otter are larger—while the Europeanbadger may reach a similar body mass, especially in autumn. Wolverines have...
as daytime resting sites in winter. Occasionally, European polecats use abandoned Europeanbadger or red fox burrows. Like other mustelids, the polecat...
Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Dachs may refer to: Badger (animal) (Melinae) or Europeanbadger (Meles meles), in German Dachs armored engineering vehicle...
Sunda stink badger (Mydaus javanensis), also called the Javan stink badger, teledu, Malay stink badger, Malay badger, Indonesian stink badger and Sunda...
cat species: the European wildcat (Felis silvestris) and the African wildcat (F. lybica). The European wildcat inhabits forests in Europe, Anatolia and the...
pups, and have been known to bite adults to death. Both foxes and Europeanbadgers compete with common raccoon dogs for food, and have been known to kill...
main predator is the Europeanbadger. European hedgehog populations in the United Kingdom are lower in areas with many badgers, and hedgehog rescue societies...
-ənt/ DAHKS-huunt, -huund, -ənt; German: 'badger dog'), also known as the wiener dog or sausage dog, badger dog and doxie, is a short-legged, long-bodied...
The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), also known as the European otter, Eurasian river otter, European river otter, common otter, and Old World otter, is a...
fifty local badger groups dedicated to the conservation and protection of the Europeanbadger. It states that it is the leading voice for badgers and that...
habitat. The Europeanbadger (Meles meles), a nocturnal carnivore, has a powerful olfactory system. Anal gland secretions (AGS) of badgers are not commonly...
the European mink is not closely related to the American mink, being much closer to the European polecat and Siberian weasel (kolonok). The European mink...
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