American badger | mammal | Britannica (original) (raw)

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description

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  In badger
  The American badger, the only New World species, is usually found in open, dry country of western North America. Muscular, short-necked, and flat-bodied, it has a broad, flattened head and short legs and tail. The colour of the coat is grayish and grizzled, dark at the…
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ecological disturbances

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  In ecological disturbance: Disturbance and biodiversity in prairie landscapes
  American badgers (Taxidea taxus) create localized disturbances in tallgrass prairies by digging for their rodent prey; digging produces mounds of dirt 0.2–0.3 square metre (2.2–3.2 square feet) in size. These holes and dirt mounds function as localized disturbances that enrich the field’s spatial patterning and provide a…
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