The badger is one of the European most recognised and popular mammals. We can recognise it by its black face with white markings and a grey body with a light-coloured stripe from head to tail.

Badgers have wide bodies, short legs and long heads with small ears. Badgers are found in Europe, Africa, North America and Asia. The European badger is the largest — it can be about 90 cm long (including the tail).

Badgers live in family groups of around six individuals in underground homes called setts. These animals are fantastic diggers, and their setts consist of many rooms, entrances and tunnels. Badgers always keep their homes clean and never bring food into the sett.

Badgers are only active at night. They can dig a hole fast enough to escape most predators.

Their diet consists of earthworms, insects and eggs of ground-nesting birds. It is an interesting fact that since badgers have very thick skin and long claws, they can kill and eat hedgehogs. Sometimes they also eat rabbits and domestic chickens.