Observations of nocturnal hunting behaviour of American Badgers, Taxidea taxus, in southwestern Saskatchewan

Abstract

This study describes the nocturnal hunting behaviour of American Badgers (Taxidea taxus) in areas inhabited by Richardson's Ground Squirrels (Urocitellus richardsonii) in southwestern Saskatchewan. Adult American Badgers searched for prey by zigzagging through clusters of Richardson's Ground Squirrel burrows or by going back and forth between one enlarged Richardson's Ground Squirrel burrow and other adjacent burrows. American Badgers' movements were not random and they were oriented to encounter prey.