Badgers are adorable. They are one of Britain's most well-loved wild animals in our countryside today. These cute animals are distinctive with their black and white striped head, and with their black and white fur all over - the pattern on badgers is instantly recognisable.
Badgers are not just one of the UK's most iconic wild animals in our countryside today, they are also the UK's biggest land predator; badgers are even bigger than foxes.
This isn't the only surprising fact about badgers, there are many more.
Let's look at the top five amazing facts about badgers!
Number Five: The Badger Family
Badgers are part of the same animal family as many other iconic and amazing animals, including otters! Badgers are part of the animal family known as the Mustelidae family. The Mustelidae family includes many different species, which includes: otters, ferrets, pine martens, badgers, and many more. All of these different species of mammals which belongs to this family are mammals.
Number Four: The Species Of Badgers
There are many different species of badgers in the wild. Badgers are found throughout many different continents across the world. Including: Europe, North America and Asia. There are a total of eight different species of badgers in the wild today across the world. These different eight species of badger are: 1) the European badger, 2) the Honey badger, 3) the American badger, 4) the Japanese badger, 5) the Hog badger, 6) the Asian badger, 7) the Sunda stink badger, and, 8) the Javan ferret-badger.
Number Three: The Life Of A Badger
Badgers can live a surprisingly long time in the wild. Badgers can live up to more than twice as long as foxes in the wild. Foxes will typically live from two years in the wild, to five years in the wild. Therefore, the life of a wild fox is really short in the wild. Whereas, badgers in the wild can live for up to twice as long; badgers can live for up to fourteen impressive years in the wild.
Badgers will usually live about two or three years in the wild though.
Number Two: Badgers Are Protected
Badgers are protected in the United Kingdom. They are one of the animals that lives in the wild in the UK which is protected by law. There are two different laws which protect badgers. The first law that protects badgers was introduced in the 1980's, it is called the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. And, badgers are also protected in law through the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.
Number One: Badgers and Hibernation
Surprisingly, badgers in the UK do not hibernate unlike other animals in the UK countryside. However, badgers are not fully active in the Winter months either. In the Winter months, badgers will live a slower pace of life so that the can reserve body fat throughout the Winter.
Badgers also give birth to their cubs in the Winter months.
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