Are Badgers Dangerous?

You might be interested in learning about the traits of a badger. It’s also possible that you might be wondering about how much danger that badgers can pose to humans. All of these important questions will be answered within this guide where you will have the opportunity to learn several important facts that relate to the lifestyle of a badger in the wilderness. 

Badgers are found all over North America’s continent and are not generally considered to be dangerous to humans. They may be dangerous to small household pets that may be roaming around your backyard. If you think a wild animal such as a badger is around your home, keep your pets secure.

They are generally found in grasslands and prefer to eat rodents like squirrels and weasels. Badgers may not be dangerous to humans but they are skilled diggers and have an excellent ability to dig for their next meal. 

While badgers may not be directly dangerous to humans, there are some important things to remember if you believe that you may live near a region where badgers exist. We will cover several aspects of their lifestyle and some of their attributes and traits in the sections below. 

Can a Badger Kill a Human?

It is unlikely that a badger would ever attempt to attack a human. Most of them are too fearful of even engaging with a human and would most likely be way too reluctant to make any sort of contact. This generally means that they are not a threat to humans, but there may always be an exception, so remain cautious anyhow. 

If you have any household pets that go outside into the yard, then there’s probably a higher chance that a badger may present a threat to a domestic dog or cat. While this is still unlikely, there have been some instances of badgers being aggressive towards dogs and cats. 

Just like most animals that you’d find out in the wilderness, badgers will defend themselves and do what they have to do to survive. If a badger believes that it is being put into danger by you, then you may expect to receive retaliation from the badger. Try to keep your distance if you spot a badger, even if you want to watch it, do not approach it. If approached the badger will growl, snarl, and possibly give off a musty odor. Source.

Are Badgers Skillful Hunters?

One attribute that most badgers inherit when they grow up is the ability to dig for small rodents. They love to eat gophers, squirrels, and weasels, but their diet is not limited to just these selections. 

Badgers like to come out in the middle of the night and most of them are believed to be nocturnal. They have been seen hunting for a meal at just about any hour of the day, depending on the specific region. 

Badgers can also be opportunistic and will attack other animals’ babies in their dens. If the parents of a fox are not around, or some other smaller mammal, they will take advantage of that situation and hunt the fox kits (babies.)

Are Badgers Dangerous | How Large Are Badgers?

Let’s take a closer look at the size of a badger. Wild animals have unpredictable instincts and even though some of them may be small, they can still be vicious. Never let your guard down when you are around a wild animal.

Male badgers are about 30 inches long in size, while females are just slightly smaller on average. They commonly weigh between 15 pounds and 20 pounds but can exceed that weight if they have a prosperous diet. 

See our article for What Do Badgers Look Like

One of the really interesting things about badgers is that they can be tougher than they look. Their small size might make them seem less intimidating, but they can still put up quite a challenge when the time comes. In most cases though, badgers want no confrontation with humans and will do everything in their power to avoid engaging with a human. Source.

How Long Do Badgers Survive In The Wild?

A badger’s average lifespan could provide some indirect information about their capabilities in the wilderness. They generally have a lifespan of a decade, but this can vary depending on their region. Some of the oldest badgers ever observed in the wilderness were 14 years old with only a few rare examples of badgers that have an older age. 

They are tenacious and like to stay solitary if possible. They rely on their digging skills and powerful legs to be useful attributes that help them survive in the wilderness. Females will generally start mating after reaching a full year of age and they can go on to live successful lives in grassland regions for around a decade.

Badgers May Hunt With Other Animals

It doesn’t necessarily make them more dangerous to humans, but most certainly to their prey. Badgers have been observed hunting with animals such as coyotes. Badgers and coyotes have very different skill sets, but by working together they are both more likely to hunt their prey successfully. 

It doesn’t happen very often but badgers are certainly willing to hunt with other animals if it means that they may have an opportunity at a meal. Many of them prefer to remain alone and will not look for assistance from any other animals in the wilderness.

Final Thoughts

There are so many different factors to consider when analyzing the threat levels of a badger in the wilderness. Are badgers dangerous? They can be. They aren’t exactly the most dangerous animal to come across if you are a human being, but they have an interesting set of skills that allow them to survive.  

The best thing to remember is that you should never underestimate a badger. They are intelligent and strong. They are excellent hunters and enjoy eating a wide variety of animals. Badgers will spend most of their life in a similar routine and they currently have a stable population. They are not generally considered to be endangered at this time.