There are no noticeable colouring differences between male boar and female sow badgers. Badger cubs are born with very light silvery hairs and after a few days the facial stripes appear; they then develop to have the same markings as adults.
There are other forms of pigmentation within the badger population, which can almost give the appearance of different species:. The eyes will probably be red or pink in colour.
The leucistic badger is a condition where there is a partial loss of pigmentation which gives the animal an appearance of patches of light colour on the hair. There is no loss of pigmentation in the eyes, so the eyes will be black. This helps distinguish the difference between an albino badger or leucistic badger. The erythristic badger has mainly sandy or gingery colour hair on the back and sides and the hair on the underbelly can be a shade of red. The eyes will normally be light brown in colour but in some cases they may have a reddish appearance.
A badger which is extremely rare is the melanistic badger and sightings of this animal are uncommon. The pigmentation of a melanistic badger is mainly black. The eyes will be black. Badgers have been living side by side with hedgehogs for centuries but will occasionally prey on them if their main food sources of worms and grubs are not abundant. Hedgehogs are currently undergoing a sharp decline in rural habitats and unfairly, badgers are often blamed.
A report on hedgehog declines read here , owed the reduction of rural hedgehogs to mainly habitat loss, through the intensification of agriculture and fewer hedgerows. This habitat reduction is more than likely affecting badgers as well. More work needs to be done to maintain natural habitats and to re-establish a balanced ecosystem for all species.
The fascinating lives of badgers. Play Video. Badger bringing in fresh bedding at night. Scent marking. It's Badger Cub Season! Badgers and foxes. Watch Now. Share Channel Info Close. Setts are excavated in soft earth, sometimes at the base of trees.
Badgers create well-trodden routes through the undergrowth between their setts and foraging areas. Look for five toe pads and distinct claw marks to identify badger tracks. Predators: adults have no predators; cubs sometimes taken by foxes and large birds of prey. With its characteristic black and white-striped face, grey fur and short furry tail, the badger looks like no other UK mammal. Stocky, powerfully-built creatures, they typically weigh 10—12kg, with a body length of about 90cm.
This makes them the biggest land predator in the UK. Badgers are omnivores, which means they will eat a wide range of food. Fruit features in the badger's diet too, including pears, apples, plums and elderberries. Elder bushes can often be found growing near badger setts.
When earthworms are scarce, badgers will eat small mammals like voles and rabbits. They are also the main predator of hedgehogs in the UK. Badgers locate food using their keen sense of smell and sharp claws that are ideal for digging. Get advice on their feeding habits, from nuts to mealworms, and other top facts. Badgers live in social groups, typically made up of around four to seven individuals.
Mating occurs year-round, predominantly between February and May. During courtship, the male badger will pursue the female, biting the nape of her neck. After mating, a process known as delayed implantation occurs. This means cubs will not be born until January or February, regardless of when mating took place.
Youngsters will stay underground for around two months before first emerging. Cubs typically reach maturity at just over one year old. Some will stay with the family, while others will disperse to find new territory. This prevents a build-up of fleas and lice. Badgers are found across the UK, with the highest numbers in southern England. Ideal badger habitat is a mixture of woodland and open country. The species lives in a network of underground burrows and tunnels know as a sett.
The current population estimate is , Mammal Society review, Matthews et al. The population has increased over the last ten years. Badgers are widely distributed throughout Britain and Ireland but are scarcer in Scotland. Setts can extend over hundreds of square metres and have many large entrances.
The spoil heaps outside setts, in contrast to those at fox earths, contain grass and other plant material, used as bedding. Status Native, common and widespread Population , Scientific name Meles meles. Head-body length: 65 — 80cm males are larger than females on average Tail length: 12 — 17cm Weight: 8 — 12kg occasionally up to 18kg Lifespan: Up to 16 years, but typically 7 — 8 years Reproduction Mating peaks in spring but development of embryos is delayed until winter and most litters are born in February.
Diet Mainly earthworms but also large insects, cereals, fruit and occasionally small animals, such as hedgehogs and rodents. Habitat Most commonly a mix of deciduous woodland, open pasture and fields but also urban gardens and embankments. Predators Few natural predators in the UK but cubs are sometimes killed by dogs, foxes and other badgers.
Threats Road traffic accidents and illegal persecution.
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