Albuquerque Bosque American Badger
(Taxidea taxus) Study

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Badger in the study on camera near Cesar Chavez

The study is is in its final stage!

Our game cameras photographed 11 badgers in the east side Albuquerque bosque from Alameda to Cesar

Chavez, thanks to many donations including our major funder: Pathways. Tracker volunteers combed the bosque for fresh digs, burrows and tracks, where we placed lure-based camera traps to capture distinct dorsal head stripes to determine individuals. The study is wrapping up and I'm now writing it up for my master's thesis at Prescott College. Results and analysis to be posted soon!

Send photos of badgers with head stripes anywhere in the Albuquerque area by emailing me here

Badger den near Montaño, Albuquerque (Note classic large mound of dirt excavated)

Badger burrow identification:

Opening approx. 7-10 inches wide/high, often angling into ground., often wider than tall, or at least equal height/width. Horizontal claw marks often visible in side walls of burrow, unlike in canine digs. Can angle straight down, usually when digging after gophers. Often but not always found on slopes or embankments.

Badgers dig dens to spend one or more nights, sometimes enlarging the holes of their prey, such as ground squirrels.. Overnight dens are identified by a large throw mound of over three feet square.

Smaller digs, many in an area, indicate foraging for voles, pocket gophers, ground squirrels, grubs or insects.

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Get excellent training in track and sign online with world-class instructors! To date, every SWOTT alumnus has gotten a certificate with Tracker Certification North America on their first try.

Listen to a radio interview on KKOB 96.3 about the study here

Badger forage digs & tracks, Monahans Sandhills State Park, Texas

They were digging for Jerusalem cricket here.

Badger front foot, from roadkill badger in Santa Fe, NM