Sturdy carnivorous burrowing mammal with strong claws widely distributed in the northern hemisphere.
Large mammal of the weasel family with molar teeth of a crushing type adapted to a partly vegetable diet, and short strong legs with long claws suitable for digging. The Eurasian common badger Meles meles is about 1 m/3 ft long, with long, coarse, grayish hair on the back, and a white face with a broad black stripe along each side. Mainly a woodland animal, it is harmless and nocturnal, and spends the day in a system of burrows called a “sett”. It feeds on roots, a variety of fruits and nuts, insects, worms, mice, and young rabbits.
The American badger Taxidea taxus is slightly smaller and lives in open country in North America. Various species of hog badger, ferret badger, and stink badger occur in S and E Asia, the last having the anal scent glands characteristic of the weasel family well developed.

Badger.