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The European badger (Meles meles), also known as the Eurasian badger, is a badger species in the family Mustelidae native to Europe and West Asia and parts of Central Asia. It is classified as least concern on the IUCN Red List, as it has a wide range and a large, stable population size which is thought to be increasing in some regions.
Basic facts about European Badger: lifespan, distribution and habitat map, lifestyle and social behavior, mating habits, diet and nutrition, population size and status.
They are present from as far west as Ireland and Spain to the eastern edges of Russia, China, and Japan. The northern boundary of the Eurasian badger range extends to the Russian Arctic Circle and Finland, and the southern boundary occurs along the southeastern coast of China.
Badgers live in an underground burrow system, usually dug into a slope, known as a sett, and while proximity to a plentiful and varied seasonal food supply is probably the main factor determining badger presence in an area, we often see clear preferences within a habitat for the location of these setts. There are many descriptions of badger ...
Badgers are found in many parts of the world, including North America and Europe. In Europe, badgers are found throughout all regions except Iceland and Ireland. These nocturnal mammals inhabit woodland areas, heathland, grasslands, and agricultural land.
Position yourself near an active sett entrance with a solid object behind you, so you are not silhouetted, or watch them feeding in your garden. Learn everything you need to know about badger social structure, behaviour, identification and breeding in our expert guide to European badgers.
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.
