Tag: badger cubs

Badger

Badger Cubs, Yellowstone National Park

Photo of two badger cubs taken several days after their mother was hit by a vehicle and managed to crawl back to the den with a broken leg and possible other injuries.

When I arrived in Yellowstone on June 1, I was told there was a badger den with three little cubs just past Soda Butte and that the mother had been hit by a vehicle and suffered a broken leg and other possible injuries, but that she did manage to get back into her den.  I looked for the den the next few days, but didn’t find it. I  finally saw a badger den just past the Hitching Post pullout and quickly learned that that was the den the first person was actually talking about.

I photographed them on June 5 and 6, but never saw the mother.  During the time I spent with them they never played with each other, but instead had their noses to the ground all the time. I think they were searching for food.  To this day I don’t know the fate of the mother or the three cubs.  However, I looked for them for the next week and never saw them as I drove by.  It was a sad event.  I hope someone has more updated news.  I assume they all died, but would love to hear they all survived.

Badger

Badger Cubs, Yellowstone National Park

Two badger cubs play-fight.
“I’m toughest. No you’re not.”

I spent  lot of time photographing these badger cubs and their mom in the spring of 2014.  I kept waiting for all three of them to show their faces to the camera and do something interesting.  This photo is the best I got.

I think these little guys were enjoying their little fight.  It’s more than just fun though. When their mom sends them into that big world away from her and the den site they’ll need to be able to defend themselves.   When I’ve observed a mother predator with only one offspring, the mother always take the place of a sibling and play-fights with the little one to teach it that life-saving skill of defending itself.

Badger

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.

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Badger Cubs

Photo of badger cubs outside den entrance.
Badger Cubs, Point Reyes National Seashore

Here is another photo of the badger cubs I found a few days ago.  The dominant cub is clearly visible.  The other cub is partially obscured by vegetation with its back to the viewer.  Note that when viewed from behind its fur is almost indistinguishable from the mound of earth.