Most people are unaware that badgers alive in our expanse. Kansas and much of the Midwest are home to the Due north American Annoy.

  • They can chop-chop build elaborate hush-hush tunnel systems and can out-dig many other native diggers such as groundhogs and skunks.
  • Some badger tunnels take been documented every bit deep as xxx anxiety.
  • Badgers prefer to live in big open plains, pastures, or hay fields.
  • Full-grown animals weigh about xx pounds. They have short legs that are barely visible when they walk. They are apartment, close to the ground, and wide.
  • Badgers have strong claws designed for quick excavation when trying to evade a predator or go after its own casualty. Badgers take been known to casualty on mice, rats, moles, rabbits, snakes, shore birds, ground squirrels, prairie dogs, and groundhogs.
  • They are nocturnal animals but will come out during the day if the mood strikes them or if they go hungry enough.
  • Badgers are strictly carnivores.
  • Badgers manage reproduction via delayed implantation of a fertilized egg, which ways the female person can mate in September, but non go pregnant from that mating until as late as Feb.
  • Young are born between March and May. Typical litters are 4 to v pups, and they are bullheaded at nativity.
    Babies are fully weaned and leave the den at eight to 10 weeks.

Baby badgers – To rescue or not to rescue

If y'all believe you take found a baby badger, be cautious and watch from a distance.

If mom does not render within an hour or you lot notice any signs of injury beneath, contact OWL.

Caught past Pets

Adult badgers can be very dangerous. DO Not PICK Up. Call us immediately.

Cats

Cats accept mouths total of leaner that tin can kill an animal in a brusk time. All animals caught past a cat need to exist brought in for medication and rehabilitation, even if you can't see wounds.

Dogs

If a domestic dog brings yous an brute, bring information technology in immediately. Dogs have powerful jaws that can create crushing injuries.

What to practice

If you striking a annoy…

Motorcar accidents are a major cause of death for badgers. The prime number fourth dimension for badgers to be crossing the roads is during mating season, which is much later than other species, occurring from late summertime to fall (September to November). These are usually males who are looking for the opportunity to mate.

If yous have accidentally striking a badger, be VERY cautious when approaching the animal to come across if information technology is even so alive. Badgers have large carnivore teeth. When threatened, badgers volition hiss, growl, blank their teeth, and assail. Badgers are POWERFUL animals!  Keep your distance and call us for help.

What to do

Badgers Digging into Chicken Coops, Sheds, & Barns

In 24 hours or fewer, a badger tin go from completely unnoticed to unavoidable by excavation straight into a chicken coop, barn, or other structure on private property. Chicken coops are the most common considering badgers accept no trouble communicable and eating a chicken.

The simplest method to stop the digging is to buy metal tent stakes, rebar, or metal garden stakes at least six inches long (preferably longer).  Drive the stakes into the basis, spaced roughly two inches apart, with a hammer until the stake meridian is flush with the basis.  When an animal attempts to dig under the coop'south fence line, these bars will greet them, and they should move on.  Badgers are such quick diggers though that they tin dismantle these bars in a fairly brusk time if they really want to.

What to practise

Injured Adults

Car accidents are a major cistron in causes of death with badgers.  The prime time for badgers to cross the roads is during mating season, which is much later than other species (September-Nov). These are usually males, looking for the opportunity to mate.

Signs of Injury

If yous notice any of these issues, contact OWL as soon as possible:

  • Cold and lethargic.
  • Covered with fleas, ants, ticks, or flies/fly strike (looks like small clusters of rice anywhere on the brute).
  • Dehydrated.
  • Has been fed any kind of formula or food.
  • Has been in a cat's or canis familiaris's mouth.
  • Cleaved limb, cuts, or bruises.
  • Caput tilt.
  • Bleeding.
  • Unable to stand or motility without falling over.

The Kickoff Treatment for Shock or Injury: Warm, Dark, and Tranquillity

If you need to bring an animal into OWL, the most important matter you must exercise is to go on them warm and serenity.

Container

Put in a shoebox or other container with several small-scale air holes in the lid and a non-terrycloth towel, fleece cloth, or t-shirt in the bottom. Tape the hat to keep secure.

Adult animals need to exist contained in a dog or cat kennel.

Heating Pad

If you have a heating pad, set to low and place the box half on/off the pad, and then the animal tin move abroad from the heat if needed. OR

Rice Bag

Fill up a sock or articulatio genus-high pantyhose with uncooked dry out rice. Microwave the rice-filled sock for thirty to 60 seconds. This estrus source will last about twenty to thirty minutes. Place the rice sock in the container under the towel, and identify the animal on or near it, but non directly in contact with the rice sock. OR

Ziploc bag

Fill a Ziploc bag with warm (not hot) water, put it inside another Ziploc handbag, and place nether the towel adjacent to the fauna. The double bag guards against leaks and prevents the animal from getting wet and chilled.

Food/H2o

Practice non feed or give anything to drink. Baby badgers accept very specific diets, and the wrong foods can speedily cause enteritis (diarrhea) and death. Keeping the animal warm is more of import than feeding it.