Scottish Country Dance of the Day

Badgers are a member of the mustelid family (the same group as stoats, weasels and otters).  Badgers live in large family groups called a cete or clan, and in a burrow system known as a sett.

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The European badger is one of the largest; the American badger, the hog badger, and the honey badger are generally a little smaller and lighter. Stink badgers are smaller still, and ferret badgers smallest of all. 

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In North America, coyotes sometimes eat badgers and vice versa, but the majority of their interactions seem to be mutual or neutral. American badgers and coyotes have been seen hunting together in a cooperative fashion!

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Despite its name, the honey badger does not closely resemble other badger species; instead, it bears more anatomical similarities to weasels.  It is primarily a carnivorous species and has few natural predators because of its thick skin and ferocious defensive abilities.  The honey badger of Africa consumes honey, porcupines, and even venomous snakes and  climbs trees to gain access to honey from bees' nests.

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In medieval times, badgers were thought to work together to dig holes under mountains. They were said to lie down at the entrance of the hole holding a stick in their mouths, while other badgers piled dirt on their bellies. Two badgers would then take hold of the stick in the badger's mouth, and drag the animal loaded with dirt away, almost in the fashion of a wagon.

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For the 2011 comedic viral video "The Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger," which now has over 88 million views, click the honey badger!  Apologies in advance.  Not for the faint-hearted or those with a fear of snakes.