2009_2375 Rolling Badger
After throwing its head back in a silent howl, Badger rolled on its back. Then it got up, wretched, and repeated the whole thing. After the second roll, it retched again, so I think it had something stuck in its throat. Maybe a prairie dog or ground squirrel bone? Another possibility is that it had an itch it just couldn't reach... but the retching, I think, was the key to this unusual behaviour.
After rolling a second time, it seemed fine: trotted away and resumed making the rounds of the prairie dog burrow mounds. Two coyotes followed. They knew enough to not mess with the mustelid. Here is a description of a badger's ferocity from my 40-year old mammal guide:
"Few animals will attack the Badger, because it is a formidable adversary: thick fur, loose, tough hide, and heavy neck muscles protect it as it bites, claws, and exudes (not sprays) a skunklike musk - while snarling, squealing, growling, and hissing. Despite such ferocity, it seldom picks a fight, preferring to retreat if necessary. A poor runner, it will back into a nearby burrow and face its tormentor with sharp teeth and strong claws; once inside it plugs the entrance hole. With no burrow convenient, it may dig one, showering dirt in the face of its attacker and excavating so quickly that it can outpace a man with a shovel. During the coldest part of winter, Badgers may become torpid, remaining in nest chambers deep within their burrows, but they do not hibernate."
Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2020 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
2009_2375 Rolling Badger
After throwing its head back in a silent howl, Badger rolled on its back. Then it got up, wretched, and repeated the whole thing. After the second roll, it retched again, so I think it had something stuck in its throat. Maybe a prairie dog or ground squirrel bone? Another possibility is that it had an itch it just couldn't reach... but the retching, I think, was the key to this unusual behaviour.
After rolling a second time, it seemed fine: trotted away and resumed making the rounds of the prairie dog burrow mounds. Two coyotes followed. They knew enough to not mess with the mustelid. Here is a description of a badger's ferocity from my 40-year old mammal guide:
"Few animals will attack the Badger, because it is a formidable adversary: thick fur, loose, tough hide, and heavy neck muscles protect it as it bites, claws, and exudes (not sprays) a skunklike musk - while snarling, squealing, growling, and hissing. Despite such ferocity, it seldom picks a fight, preferring to retreat if necessary. A poor runner, it will back into a nearby burrow and face its tormentor with sharp teeth and strong claws; once inside it plugs the entrance hole. With no burrow convenient, it may dig one, showering dirt in the face of its attacker and excavating so quickly that it can outpace a man with a shovel. During the coldest part of winter, Badgers may become torpid, remaining in nest chambers deep within their burrows, but they do not hibernate."
Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2020 James R. Page - all rights reserved.