Badger is the general name for any animal of three subfamilies, which belong to the family Mustelida.

Badgers are short-legged, heavy-set and the lower jaw is articulate to the upper, by means of a transverse condoyle firmly locked into a long cavity of the cranium, so that displacement of the jaw is all but impossible. These enable the badger to preserve its hold with the utmost tenacity.

It is closely related to otters, stoats, weasels, polecats and pine martens. A badger's home is called a sett. It is an underground home, often with a labyrinth of tunnels concerning the excavation of tons of earth.

The sense of smell is the most important of the badger’s senses and forage for food with their snouts constantly sniffing the ground ahead of them. Badgers are omnivorous and will eat a wide multiplicity of foods, even though their main diet consists of earthworms, up to 200 per day.

Badgers are less energetic during winter months but they do not hibernate. The mating progression involves delayed implantation although females are able to mate any time after the cubs are born, fertilized egg does not implant in the uterus until December.