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AMERICAN FORESTRY 



AN OLD BADGER OUT OF HIS BURROW 



This figure gives a very excellent representation of the animal 

 as it walks. Observe that the feet are semi-plantigrade, or very 

 like those of a bear. (From A. C. Gould's "Where to Hunt 

 American Game.") 



threw the writer clear over the horse's head; and, as 

 he landed, his gun struck the ground on the end of the 

 muzzle, completely shattering the stock at the grip. 

 However, the horse was on its feet again in an instant, 

 luckily unhurt, as the soil was very soft and had given 

 way before its stiffened limb. 



It is said that where the food supply is unusually 

 abundant, and other conditions are good, badgers will 

 come together in large numbers, but personally the 

 writer has never seen anything of this kind, and it has 

 been his experience to have met with not more than 

 eight or ten families living in one community, cover- 

 ing a limited area. Scores of burrows were present, but 

 the majority of them were far too small to be occupied 

 by badgers. 



These creatures are shy and timid by nature ; still, when 

 the even tenor of their way is interfered with, they can 

 be extremely ugly animals to handle and overcome. 

 None of the Canidae found in this region especially 

 care about engaging one in an encounter, as it is quite 

 likely that the badger would come out victorious. His 

 jaws have a tremendous grip and power ; and as for any 

 other animal attacking one in its burrow, no such case 

 is known in so far as the writer is aware. In fact, its 

 principal enemy is man, who destroys it by the thou- 

 sands for the sake of its pretty pelt ; and the hair of the 

 badger has long been used for the blenders of artists, 

 for shaving and for other soft brushes. 



But on the other hand, badgers are, in a way, useful 

 to man, as they destroy untold numbers of destructive 

 rodents; and the insects, snails and snakes that they 

 occasionally prey upon may or may not be man's best 



friends from an economic standpoint. In unsettled parts 

 of the West the badger is ever on the increase ; but he is 

 being gradually exterminated as the country settles up, 

 although the chances are that he will hold his own for 

 an indefinite length of time in many localities. When 

 his usual bill of fare runs a little short he finds no trouble 

 in subsisting upon small birds, if he can manage to cap- 

 ture them on their nests ; or, he will eat their eggs. He 

 will also eat some kinds of fruits and roots if need be. 



Badgers are rarely seen out of their burrows in the 

 daytime, and this is the reason that, traveling over the 

 western plains, one so seldom sees a badger, although 

 their burrows are very numerous and every indication 

 exists of the presence of these animals. They chiefly 

 come forth at night ; and it is the rarest thing in the 

 world to find a pair together on this occasion day or 

 night. For some reason or other, the sexes pursue their 

 avocations usually apart. In sections where they are 

 plenty, we may occasionally catch an old fellow away 

 from his stronghold, when he will be seen to literally 

 flatten himself out like a big, soft-shelled turtle. In this 

 shape he will squat down and look like a little mound of 

 grayish earth, and the horseman has passed him for 

 such many a time. If not too far away to make a run 

 for it, he will try to creep cautiously back to his den un- 

 observed, but this attempt sometimes costs him his life. 



Many years ago, when hunting in Wyoming, the writer 

 once surprised a large badger in this way, but did not 

 sight him until he was within about twenty feet of his 

 burrow. The piece carried on this occasion was a double- 

 barrelled shotgun, loaded with buckshot. The shot fired 

 at him apparently wounded him in several places, for he 

 made the dust and stones fly as he rolled over and over 

 in his rage. However, he suddenly pulled himself to- 

 gether and actually got into his burrow before a second 

 shot could be given him, or before he could be headed 

 off. Sometimes when one runs into his burrow, he may 

 suddenly appear again in a moment or two at its en- 

 trance to inspect the intruder; and the writer has seen 



THE SKULL OF AN OLD MALE BADGER 



The badger's skull is built along the line of great strength, and 

 it has a wonderful set of teeth. Note the small, shallow orbit 

 and the peculiar articulation of the lower jaw. Not only can 

 the animal give a fearful bite, but it can hold on to its victim 

 with great tenacity. (Considerably reduced.) 



