An American Badger

American badgers are challenging to photograph, mainly because they like to emerge from their setts under cover of darkness. I’ve spent a few evenings hanging out near a known and active den, only to be defeated by the fading light before any badger appeared. This week, though, I was fortunate. Driving along a quiet road in Point Reyes National Seashore, I spotted one in a cow field in the middle of the day. At first, I thought it was a bobcat all curled up, but I was excited to see it was a badger.

The only time I’d ever seen a badger before it was far away and left the scene quickly. This one was just hanging out. I later learned that mother badgers are more likely spotted foraging during daylight hours in the spring because they want to spend the nights with their young cubs. That may explain the encounter. I didn’t get too close or a great composition, but seeing one was a thrill.