What Eats A Badger | Badgers Predators From Wolves To Eagles

Badgers are tough and aggressive animals and that is the reason they have very few natural predators. They can easily survive in the wilderness due to their strong natural instincts. Despite being tenacious and tough, it doesn’t mean that they are immune from any attack. Many large and more powerful animals can overpower badgers. We are going to discuss these badger predators.

What eats a badger?

The primary predators of the badgers are lions, foxes, bobcats, coyotes, wolves, eagles, bears, and other animals that share a habitat with the badgers. Researchers have also found out that they are mostly hunted by cougars. Humans have also been the biggest predators of the badgers. They have been hunting them for fur, pelts, etc. Badger fur is very useful for making brushes. Badgers do their best to survive or avoid conflict with predators but at some point they become powerless. 

In this article, we are going to discuss all the major predators of the badgers and we will also highlight the most dangerous regions for the badger population.

Badger Predators

There are very few animals who dare to attack badgers despite their dangerous nature. They can utilize badgers as a source of food or just want to kill them for their own protection. However, if we look at the statistics, then the biggest killer of the badger are humans. Humans are mainly responsible for the killing of badgers for various purposes. Let’s discuss in detail the predators of the badgers.

Bear

One of the most prominent killers of the badger is the bear. They kill badgers mainly to use them as a source of food. Badgers tried their best to attack them back but most of them become the prey of bears. Bears are not nocturnal, so there are less chances of bear interaction with a badger.

Do Wolves eat badgers?

They don’t kill the badgers as their main prey but only kill them when they find no other animal for their food. It usually happens when badgers go far away from their dens. Badgers might also be attacked by the wolves at their own setts. Wolves suddenly attack and give no time to the badgers for escape. If the badger is attacked by an immature wolf, then there are also chances that the badger might overpower the wolf.

Mountain lions

Badgers are fearless animals. They are also ready to compete with big animals like hyenas, rhinos, and sometimes even lions. Lions also don’t like to engage with badgers. However, if a decisive battle happens between the lions and badgers, then most probably badgers are hunted down by the lions. Mountain lions are also nocturnal so there are chances of their encountering badgers.

Golden eagle

Badgers could also be attacked by large birds like the golden eagle. These eagles might not attack adult badgers but they could easily overpower cubs. Badgers resist very much against the attack of the eagles. Badgers could also win this battle. That’s why eagles like to attack in groups to increase the chances of their survival.

Bobcats

Wildcats or bobcats are very powerful, deadly, and fast. They could attack and kill the badger. However, they don’t always attack badgers and try their best to avoid this interaction as much as possible. They also know that badgers have tough but loose skin and powerful claws and jaws. They are also nocturnal and share the same territory and region as the badgers. That’s why there are more chances of badger interaction with bobcats.

What eats a badger: Wolverine

Wolverine is also another animal that can attack badgers and overpower them. Wolverine has powerful jaws. Wolverines directly attack the badgers at the throat which they know is the most delicate part of the badgers. By attacking at this part, they could also suffocate badgers and ultimately kill them. There are also chances the badger might rip off the wolverine and bleed it to death.

Badger predators UK

It has been estimated that European badgers are more at risk of natural hazars than other badgers like North American badgers. Badgers might also be killed by other causes like environmental hazards, diseases, etc. The largest population of badgers lives in the United Kingdom. In the UK, they are mostly attacked by foxes, wild dogs, wolfs, etc. Many badgers have also been killed due to conflict in the territory. Badgers could also become a source of meat for many other animals.

In the UK, there is also the spread of diseases among badgers. For instance, many badgers have to face the disease of Bovine TB. They also transmit this disease from one animal to another. Badgers are vaccinated before keeping them under captivity. A report of 94 killed badgers in southwest England highlighted that 20 of these badgers carry diseases.

Are badger cubs more vulnerable to predators?

Badger cubs are certainly more vulnerable to being attacked by predators. They mostly remain under the protection of their mother. But cubs could also be attacked even under the protection of their mothers. Mainly, they are attacked by wolves, foxes, bears, bobcats, etc.

Cubs are mostly attacked when food is scarce, especially in the winter. That’s why badgers don’t like to come out in the winter. In Europe, cubs mostly fall prey to golden eagles, red foxes, wolves, wolverines, and brown bears. Once a badger cub was killed by a domestic dog in New Hampshire.

Are humans also predators of badgers?

Humans have also been hunting down badgers in very large numbers. They also breed special dogs like Dachshund dogs for this purpose. People had also been eating badgers during world war 2. Badgers had also been the source of food for native Americans and new American settlers. Nowadays, there is no doubt that badgers are being killed by predators, diseases, and starvation still most of them are being killed by humans under the guise of various purposes.

Mostly they are killed by vehicles in road accidents. The habitat of the badgers has also been destroyed by a human for clearing farm or ranch land. They are also considered pest species and hurdle to crop production. They are also a major risk to livestock and are not allowed to go near them. Many badgers have been found killed after they have eaten poisoned rodents.

Some laws have also been passed for the protection of badgers. In this regard, the Animal act of 1835, the protection of badger act of 1992, hunting act of 2004 are the most prominent.

Why it is difficult to attack and kill badgers?

Badgers have very powerful jaws, sharp claws, nasty bites, and thick and loose skin. Even if other animals overpower badgers, badgers might turn around and bite them back. That’s why badgers have very few natural predators. The striking back force of a badger is also called warning coloration.

Do honey badgers have any natural predators?

Despite having tough skin and ferocious attitudes, honey badgers are not immune to being killed by predators. There are many animals like lions, hyenas, leopards, and jackals who can attack and overpower badgers. Honey badgers are also known as fearless animals because they have to face many predators in their life.

Honey badgers kill some and in some cases honey badgers themselves become prey. It has also been estimated that animals having very few predators are placid, calm, and less furious.

Frequently asked questions

Final thoughts

Indeed, badgers are very ferocious, aggressive, and wild animals, but it doesn’t mean there are immune to being killed. There are several other big wild animals present that can easily attack and overpower badgers. Most of these animals have been clearly mentioned and explained in the article how they attack and kill badgers.

There might be chances that some predators of the badgers don’t eat them but they would definitely fight to the bitter in hunting down the badgers. Badgers also show resistance as much as they can. Sometimes they also strike back and killed the attacker. That’s why some predators don’t take the risk of attacking badgers when they encounter them.