Characteristics: The many unique physical characteristics of the badger, which adapt it for preying on burrowing rodents, make it readily identifiable. Although normally thought of as a Western or Great Plains animal, it occurs over much of northern and western Missouri, but is uncommon. The body of the badger is depressed, with short stout legs having long recurved foreclaws and short shovel- like hind claws.
Characteristic white cheek patches and a white stripe from the nose back to the shoulders are notable. Adults weigh 15 to 20 pounds and have gray, silver-tipped fur and a short, furred tail.
BADGER
BADGER
I take that life if I can, with regret as well as joy, and with the sure knowledge that nature’s ways of fang and claw or exposure and starvation are a far crueler fate than I bestow. – Fred Bear