We have focused diligently to protect a 100-year-old habitat in West Petaluma, determined to be a core maternal area. There are a few locations in Sonoma County (some open space protected lands, as well) with American Badger habitat and presence.

This time of season is about the time for dispersal of young. For this # of badgers to have emerged from a burrow or burrows may likely have been a female with her young about ready to disperse. Otherwise, the badgers would not be interested in taking a defensive position. Your response (and presence of mind to take the photos, kudos) sounds very appropriate. To stand after retreating, calmly, and then not make eye contact, wait for the badger to retreat, or when things seem calmed down, back away quietly and carefully to give the message, actually, of apology for encroaching upon a habitat where a threat was felt by the badger, thus the offensive movement, is a best practice.

I wondered if there have been any nearby habitat losses of grassland areas or development? Nearby could be within a 5-10 mile radius.

Please contact me if you would ever like a site visit or any additional information. We make complimentary consultative visits to help determine best practices to protect the badgers as well as facilitate understanding of how and why they may have found their way there.

With the mention of ground squirrels, there must be sufficient forage for the badgers found there.

Badgers have been reported in the South Bay, but as one poster above said, sadly, many are killed by vehicles in trying to cross roadways. Fragmented habitat and competition for foraging are significant issues, similar to burrowing owls.

Helping to protect their habitat and movement areas is a great act to help this special status mammal try and survive.

It’s also good the sighting was on private property and the water source nearby sounds like a good choice for a female badger likely about to help her young disperse to find their own territories.

Thank you for sharing the photos and your experience.

If you see them again, please share. Much appreciated. We’ll put this general location with the sighting in our BadgerMap project.

PLAN will be at the Beaver Festival in Martinez on Sat., August 6 – stop by and say hi if you’re there.

info@paulalaneactionnetwork.org
http://www.paulalaneactionnetwork.org
707-773-3215