American Badger - GTNP

Today we visited Uhl Hill Road where a large number of bison have been seen recently.  Rumors of a dead bison sent us looking for an  animal scavaging the carcass.  We did not locate the dead bison but I think we came close.  We found ravens with large pieces of meat that could only have come from a substantial source...

The consolation prize was a family of badgers consisting of the mother and two cubs...

Badgers are common in the west but, due to their nocturnal habits, are not commonly seen...

This family was lounging at the entrance to their burrows and allowed us to observe them for at least 30 minutes...

Badgers are famous for their digging ability so we weren't too surprised when the adult began digging...

The surprise came when she stopped digging in the conventional manner and laid on her side to dig using only one front foot...

Soon, one of the cubs appeared as if to see what mom was doing...

With those strong, fearsome looking claws she took the face of the cub and pulled it affectionately to her...

I am not very familiar with badgers but I can recognize when an animal appears relaxed and content...

It was a pleasant time spent watching these animals interact...

Thanks for visiting, be well, and remember that a photograph not shared is a photograph wasted.