Badges abound in Britain, most common in the southwest, rarely in the north and east; is widely distributed in Scotland. They are common throughout Ireland but are absent from the Isle of Mann, and on many other islands. Badges travel at night and are rarely seen during the day. When not in use, slots usually sleep in a series of underground tunnels and breeding rooms, known as a set. Each social group usually has the main set where most of the group stays most of the time, but there may be strange holes scattered in the occasional use area. Badges can accommodate between two and 23 adult contact groups, but usually up to six. These protect the area around their main set as a location. Areas can be as small as 30ha but can be up to 150ha or more in the Highlands. They leave their excrement in shallow pits, which, once compacted, are called toilets. These toilets are used by sliders to mark the boundaries of their areas.
Mating occurs between February and May, and planting is delayed until the end of winter. Only one female rabbit in a contact group usually gives birth, although sometimes two or more may do so. 2-3 liters of lambs born in February are blind and hairless in a safe place in the nest. They usually appear above the ground in about 8 weeks, and weaning usually takes about 12 weeks. In late summer they are usually independent but not badly affected by the drought at this time, causing famine. Badgers are omnivores that eat roots, tubers, bulbs, seeds, fruits, leaves, insects, and small mammals. They have been known to attack livestock and domestic animals. Badgers live in tunnels dug out of the solid ground. These tunnels can range from 6-10 feet deep and 10-20 feet long. Badgers dig their own tunnels but they may use the burrows of other species like foxes, owls, rabbits, and weasels.
A badger's diet is underground vegetation, earthworms, insect larvae, mollusks, small rodents, birds' eggs, and carrion. Badgers' teeth are not sharp enough to cut through bone. Badgers have no sweat glands. Their fur keeps them cool while digging. Badgers are omnivores that eat insects, worms, small mammals, birds' eggs, roots, fungi, and other animals including carrion and garbage. They are known to dig tunnels into the ground to search for food. Badgers have been observed digging holes in the ground up to 25 to 30 feet deep. A badger can consume about 1 kilogram (2 pounds) of earthworms per day. In England, badgers were introduced to control the population of rabbits. Rabbits are a major pest in the countryside.
Badgers are not aggressive towards humans unless provoked. Scientists believe that the badger’s diet consists mainly of earthworms, beetles, slugs, snails, grasshoppers, moths, and other invertebrates. Badgers can eat both vegetation and insects. They have been known to dig up gardens and make holes under sheds. In some parts of the UK, badgers can weigh over 20kg (44lb). A badger's diet is eating roots, bulbs, tubers, fruit, nuts, seeds, and shoots. There are 2 types of badger; long-nosed badger and short-nosed badger. Both are brownish-black in color and have similar-sized ears. Their teeth are best for eating roots, tubers, and their claws are adapted for digging.
The badger has a unique method of communication that involves scent marking. This allows them to communicate information about where food sources are located.
