Watching Miss Clover ambulate always reminds me of a flounder. Flat. Barely skimming the ground. The fringes of her coat fluttering like the edges of the flounder as it scoots along the ocean floor. 

She doesn't exactly cut a graceful figure as she waddles along on stubby legs under an impossibly wide body. Nevertheless there is a jauntiness and seriousness of purpose that gives her a certain dignity.  

Badgers are a much maligned species, but as is so often the case their reputation is based on limited knowledge and experience, and an ungenerous misunderstanding. The myth is perpetuated by people who have never met a badger  ("Oh, they are MEAN"). We love the drama of it. But the truth is much more interesting and fun. It is true that they can be what we might call ferocious:

Scene: Little Miss Clover running as fast as she can after a six- foot man who himself is running as fast as he can….. the man leaping on top of the first available source of safety which happens to be an empty kennel box……the man on tip toes  looking down in terror at the snarling growling bundle of fury trying to attach itself to his leg.

But she had a reason. Despite warnings he had picked her up by the scruff of her neck when she was a young girl, like a dog, with no feeling or respect. You don’t pick up badgers by the scruff of the neck. It is an insult. They have a very delicate dignity and a very long memory. It is also a punishment- that is where they grab mice and other prey to shake and kill them for food. She simply never forgave him. Or any other tall skinny 6 foot male who came along (There is a limit to their capacity for discrimination……..)  

October:

As for the badger's reputation as the meanest thing on four legs barring a wolverine (that is what you always hear) ………. Miss Clover follows us on walks enjoying the companionship; stays very close for safety in places that are new, and comes running up to the edge of her enclosure to greet us, full of curiosity and enthusiasm.  And I have stood in an arena with five full grown wolverines standing on their hind legs, forepaws on my thighs asking for treats. An Austrian naturalist Peter Krott used to rescue and raise wolverines. A large male guarded Peter's newborn infant with tender care, True. He has photos to prove it. He stated he would find it hard to live without their charming vitality around him.

 As is true of her kind, Miss Clover does have a tendency to shoot first and ask questions later. Badgers do not subscribe to discretion as being the better part of valor. If they feel the vibration of an animal passing by their den the unfortunate individual is liable to be surprised by a chattering growling package of rage, charging at astounding velocity. But if you were small in a very big and dangerous world, and were so near sighted you were almost blind, wouldn’t that be a good defense? If you can't see too well and it might be dangerous, attack first and develop a fearsome reputation. It is true, they do have a bit of a hair trigger temper….as I mentioned, they have a very delicate dignity and must be treated with the utmost respect.  But that is entirely reasonable, many of us are the same, and that is not all there is to them.  If you can get past the defense, they can be charming, playful, affectionate and very funny. Miss Clover will frequently be seen lying flat on her back, balancing her water dish on  four legs and throwing it up in the air as she chatters to herself. A sound that is very like a human giggle draws the viewer's attention to this occurrence.  On a hot day she will wet her belly in her water dish, then lie on her back and fan herself vigorously. Gradually the pace of her fanning slows to a few feeble little movements as she starts to fall asleep. And the intensity with which she pursues her main love in life, digging, her entire being focused, shows a great passion for life.

But I digress. This is a story not of their dignity or their attempt to protect themselves but a story of sweetness and mischief and play….. in badgers and in nature not always red in tooth and claw, or even very practical…...  

November:

A professional photographer called and asked if we could arrange a coyote -  badger interaction. In the field, biologists have occasionally observed a badger and a coyote hunting in the same place at the same time. This of course is open to several interpretations depending on the way one’s training, culture or personal temperament has shaped what one selects to see. The cynical or more practical view is that it is of advantage to one or both. It is true that badgers can dig like nobody else. And that they love mice and voles- they are very useful creatures in keeping the populations under control. And it is true that coyotes also like voles and mice, but are nowhere in the same league when it comes to digging. So when a coyote spots a badger digging in a field disappearing down a tunnel with the velocity of a freight train, there is a good possibility that there will be a frazzled rodent coming out the other end. Coyotes in the wild have been observed waiting at a second opening of a tunnel waiting for a morsel to essentially pop into its mouth.  A bit unfair after the badger did the all the work, but there you are. Not fair, but definitely practical.

So we brought Miss Clover, and Streak the coyote, who had never officially met her before, out into a field. After some experimental sniffing and digging, Miss Clover sought, found and dug. Streak saw, came and stood at a second entrance.  A vole came up seeking safety from the onslaught behind it. Streak pounced, caught, held in his mouth, walked around to Miss Clover and trotted up to her as she continued furiously digging. He tossed the mouse invitingly up in the air. She ignored it – she probably didn’t even notice she was so into her digging. He did it again.  She didn’t see.  He finally tried bumping her in the side with his nose to get her attention.  It didn’t work. He bumped her side with his nose again.   

Finally pulled from her focus, Miss Clover noticed, stopped digging, and making for Streak bumped him back, decisively, in his side. Still intent on a friendly encounter, he bowed, hind end up in the air tail wagging, front legs flat on the ground, inviting her to play.

It would be nice to be able to report that she responded to the clear invitation to play, but that is not the case. Despite all his best seductive efforts, she single-mindedly returned to her digging. But she did not attack him. She wasn't even irritated - she was simply otherwise occupied and telling him to leave her alone.  

Seen through the lens of biology, the likely explanation is that there is an advantage to coyotes to hunt with badgers. That makes sense. But it doesn't mean that is the only thing going on.  What was the "advantage" for Streak in inviting Miss Clover to play? Why was there no aggression on her part?  Perhaps when relieved of the stress of needing to find food, safety, territory in which to hunt, an entirely different side of wild animals has the freedom to express itself. Perhaps when given the opportunity, without stress, they enjoy the company of species other than their own. I would like to hear your thoughts.

If you would like to hear more about Miss Clover's adventures, bookmark this website for future updates. Better still, become part of our Adopt-an-Animal family.  

To make a donation, click here