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 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.