Badger Cubs at Play

Photo of two badger cubs.
Three Badger Cubs at Play, Yellowstone National Park

I checked this badger den for the better part of two weeks in May of 2009.  For a couple of days one of the cubs was often seen with this bit of fur or skin in its mouth.  I don’t think I ever saw them more than about 10 feet from the mouth of the den.  Yet, a coyote managed to capture and kill one of the cubs.  I don’t think they had learned to fear anything up to that point.  Some of life’s lessons come at a steep price.

Badger, Yellowstone National Park

Photo of female badger at her den.
Badger Mom at Her Den

In the spring of 2009 this mother badger and her three cubs were very popular photo subjects in Yellowstone.  Her den was fairly close to the road.   She crossed the road often and I worried that she’d get hit.  I don’t think she ever did get hit, at least at that den site, but an awful lot of wildlife is killed on Yellowstone’s roads each year.

Badger Cub on a Roll

An American Badger cub rolls on its back.
King of the Hill

I can’t believe my luck.  Yesterday I found a second badger den in the last 7 days at Point Reyes National Seashore.    There are two cubs and this one is the more aggressive.  Here it’s enjoying a roll on the entrance mound.

Long-tailed Weasel; Point Reyes National Seashore

Photo of long-tailed weasel peering out of a burrow.
Long-tailed Weasel on the Hunt

Long-tailed weasels are about as hard to find and photograph as badgers. This is the second one I’ve seen and been able to photograph at Point Reyes.  I found it a few days after photographing the mother badger and her cubs.  Every week should be so good.