Badger Mania

Colorado’s open grassland is home to a small, rarely seen, but tough and voracious predator — the American Badger. Badgers live primarily underground, using their imposing front claws to dig their own dens and to pursue their primary prey of prairie dogs, ground squirrels and mice. Adult badgers are generally between 24 and 30 inches in length and weigh up to 20 pounds. Although usually nocturnal, badgers can occasionally be seen in the early morning or late afternoon/evening. This badger was  spotted at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge six miles north of Park Hill. Photo by Reid Neureiter