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The European badger (Meles meles) is a mustelid native to almost all of Europe. It has a wide range and a large stable population size and is thought to be increasing in some regions. In Europe, where no other badger species commonly occurs, it is generally just called the "badger".
The European badger is a powerfully built, black, white, brown, and grey animal with a small head, a stocky body, small black eyes, and a short tail. Its weight varies, being 7–13 kg (15–29 lb) (15–29 lb) in spring, but building up to 15–17 kg (33–37 lb) in autumn before the winter sleep period.
Throughout most of Europe, including here in Britain, the badger is primarily a species of “unimproved” grasslands (i.e., that without intensive livestock grazing, ploughing, reseeding, or application of herbicides and artificial fertiliser) and broadleaf/deciduous or mixed woodland.
Badgers live in setts which are usually found in the countryside in woodlands or the edges of fields. Badgers can still be found in urban areas in woodland parks and green spaces. Juveniles often play around the sett – particularly leap-frog and king-of-the-castle.
Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN) The European badger is nocturnal and lives in woodlands and shrublands across Europe and Asia. It’s incredibly powerfully-built and stereotypically black, white and grey in appearance. They grow up to around 90cm in length, and can weigh up to 17kg.
Habitat. Eurasian badgers are highly adaptable and live in a wide variety of environments. Ideal habitat includes deciduous, conifer, or mixed woodlands adjacent to open fields. In addition, they may occupy hedges, scrub, and riverine habitats as well as agricultural land, grassland, steppes, and semi-deserts.
The ideal habitat of the European Badger includes deciduous and coniferous forests, as also mixed woodlands adjacent to open fields. They have also been seen dwelling in hedges, scrub, agricultural land, grassland, riverine habitats, steppes, and semi-deserts.
