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Badger: Difference between revisions
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[[File:European badger (Meles meles).png|alt=European badger (Meles meles)|thumb|European badger (Meles meles)]] | [[File:European badger (Meles meles).png|alt=European badger (Meles meles)|thumb|European badger (Meles meles)]] | ||
'''Badgers''' are a group of mammals that belong to the family [[Mustelidae]], which also includes the otters, wolverines, martens, minks, polecats, weasels, and ferrets. There are | '''Badgers''' are a group of mammals that belong to the family [[Mustelidae]], which also includes the otters, wolverines, martens, minks, polecats, weasels, and ferrets. There are 12 species of badgers, distributed across North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Badgers have a distinctive appearance, with a black and white striped face, a stocky body, short legs and long claws. They are mostly nocturnal and live in burrows called setts, which they dig with their powerful forelimbs. Badgers are omnivorous and feed on a variety of plants and animals, such as worms, insects, rodents, rabbits, fruits and roots. Some badgers are social and form groups called clans, while others are solitary. | ||
Badgers have a reputation for being fierce and aggressive, especially when defending their setts or young. They can fight off larger predators like wolves, bears and foxes with their sharp teeth and claws. Badgers also have a gland near their anus that produces a foul-smelling secretion called musk, which they use to mark their territory and deter enemies. Badgers are often hunted by humans for their fur, meat or sport, or persecuted as pests or carriers of diseases. However, badgers are valued as ecological engineers, as their digging activities create habitats for other animals and plants. | Badgers have a reputation for being fierce and aggressive, especially when defending their setts or young. They can fight off larger predators like wolves, bears and foxes with their sharp teeth and claws. Badgers also have a gland near their anus that produces a foul-smelling secretion called musk, which they use to mark their territory and deter enemies. Badgers are often hunted by humans for their fur, meat or sport, or persecuted as pests or carriers of diseases. However, badgers are valued as ecological engineers, as their digging activities create habitats for other animals and plants. | ||