Badger facts at a glance
Latin name
Meles meles
Family
Mustelids, with otters, stoats and weasels
Length
75–100 cm, plus a 15 cm tail
Weight
8–9 kg in spring, 11–12 kg in autumn
Lifespan
Usually 5–8 years in the wild
Group size
Usually about 6 adults; sometimes more than 20
Active
Dusk to dawn
Population
About 485,000 in England and Wales (2011–14 survey)
What does a badger look like?
A badger is large and grey, with a short fluffy tail, black legs and belly, and the famous black-and-white striped face. Strong front legs with long claws make it a champion digger.
Explore the guide
- What do badgers eat? Mostly earthworms, plus insects, fruit and nests.
- What is a badger sett? Tunnels, chambers and bedding.
- When are badger cubs born? Clans, cubs and delayed implantation.
- Do badgers hibernate? What badgers do in winter.
- Badger myths and facts Common myths checked against the evidence.
- Badger facts for kids Twenty true facts for homework and KS1/KS2.
- Badger questions answered Short, sourced answers to the most-asked questions.
A badger's year
- Winter: Cubs are born underground, mostly in February. Badgers are less active but don't hibernate.
- Spring: Cubs first come above ground in April or May. Adults mate and refresh their bedding.
- Summer: Cubs learn to forage. Dry weather pushes worms deep, so food can be hard to find.
- Autumn: Badgers feed up on fruit, nuts and worms and drag fresh bedding into the sett. October is Brocktober.