The Badger Saga Continues...

This little guy gave me a scare. I went out to the coop to care for the chickens, and I saw that the badger had dug under the coop. The yard birds really needed water and food, but I really didn't want to get into it with a badger, so I went back in the house to put on my running shoes in case I needed, well, to run. 

As I was checking to see if the badger was still in the hole, I kept hearing noises that sent chills up my spine. Fortunately, it was just this little guy who was stuck in the chicken feeder. I let him out once I saw that the badger had vacated the hole. It is this little guy and so many like it that has the badger hunting so close to our home.

The hens were very excited about the freshly dug dirt, so they went to work on the pile scratching and digging.

The next day, I saw a new hole that actually had the badger resting inside. This hole is far bigger than the one under the coop. So far, the badger has not messed with the hens. This badger is an old timer who has dug holes occasionally around the yard for years. Hopefully, this will remain the case, since we have been inundated with ground squirrels this year.  

The badger is getting too close for comfort. Usually, it will dig a hole or two and move on. This is the third hole that I have found. There could be more. 

 

I didn't get too close to the hole to see inside this time. It gave me the creeps.

We have seen the badger frequently this year, but this was the first time we were able to safely get a close up of it from the car. It is an industrious animal, but ferocious, nonetheless. I saw it again right before dark last night cruising across the property. It is doing us a service by hunting the enormous number of ground squirrels that are plaguing us this year, but it is way too close to us. We will have to keep an eye out to avoid any confrontation with this small, but mighty beast. 

Mrs. Smith