The badger is an animal that belongs to the Mustelidae family. This includes animals like minks, otters, weasels, and ferrets to name a few. Badgers are small but formidable creatures due to how aggressive they can get. Trust us when we say that you don’t want to count badgers out just because of their size.
One thing a badger does a lot of is digging holes and burrowing underground. However, they are pretty decent above ground. Some say that badgers are even good at climbing trees and in this article, we are going to find out once and for all if badgers can climb trees.
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Can Badger Climb Trees?
Think that badgers can’t climb trees? Well, think again! Badgers actually can climb trees. The reason for this is that their limbs are short, yet very muscular. Throw because their nonretractable claws are extremely sharp, and you have some good climbs on your hands.
They can climb up tree trunks pretty well believe it or not. These animals can even swim pretty well. So, they can dig holes, climb trees, and swim. I don’t know about you, but this sounds like badgers might be a triple threat in their own right.
How high a badger can climb is up for debate, but now they can climb, so if you ever see one in a tree, don’t be too shocked or wonder how they got up there. Chances are the badger climbed up there all by themselves.
Are Badgers Good at Climbing?
Recall that the badger is a very aggressive animal with an extremely muscular body and sharp claws. Combine these things and you end up with an animal that is surprisingly adept at climbing trees and other surfaces. Imagine coming outside and seeing a badger climbing a tree? You might be a little scared, but also should be impressed at what this animal can do.
Another thing to keep in mind about badgers is that they are very persistent so they will keep at something. Even if something seems unclimbable, they will keep at it. Both Honey badgers and American badgers are pretty decent at climbing, so don’t expect one to be worse than the other.
Can Badger Climb Fences?
Badgers are great climbers who can climb trees and fences. A fence is no problem for a badger. They could easily scale a fence and damage it as well because they are very strong. Their bodies are very muscular, so obviously they are going to cause some damage when they are attempting to get into your yard.
Besides, trying to scale a fence, they can also go underneath it. Remember, they are great at digging burrows so it will be no trouble for them to go underneath your fence. By doing this, they are going to cause a lot of damage to your yard, unfortunately.
There are ways you can reinforce a fence in order to stop a badger from entering your garden. This is something I will cover a little later in the article. However, know that it is possible for you to do it so there is hope.
Can Badgers Climb 6ft Fences?
While Badgers usually can climb a fence that is about 3 to 4 feet tall, a six foot tall fence would be difficult so we’d have to say no they can’t. This is pretty impressive for an animal that, admittedly, has short stubby legs. Of course, they are very muscular legs, so you also have to keep that in mind as well.
Interestingly enough, there has been a report of a rescued badger climbing a fence that was about 6 feet tall to escape from the area. This might not be the case for all badgers out there, but know that it is possible for some of them to do it.
Most fences to keep badgers out are usually about bigger than about four feet. Not that you have to start constructing a seven-foot fence. Just keep in mind that these animals are great climbs and might scale that tall fence you just put up.
Can Badgers Climb Walls?
Badgers can indeed climb walls. The walls do need to be smooth and built a certain way. They can’t just climb every single wall they come across, but it is definitely possible for them to do so.
Rather than climbing walls, a badger is more likely to actually dig into a wall. They can dig out parts of the footing four walls or quarry through stonewalls.
Remember, their claws are very long and unretractable. These claws help them dig into the ground with little to no trouble. So, like they can do with your fence, they can cause a decent amount of damage with your walls as well.
Badgers just can be huge pains and big trouble for those who have a garden or tend to their yard on a daily or weekly basis.
Are Badgers Good Pets?
We will say from the start that badgers absolutely don’t make good pets at all. Under no circumstances should you consider getting a badger as a pet. If you have a badger, then you need to get rid of it right away and not consider keeping it, no matter how attached to the animal you might be.
For one, it’s illegal to keep badgers as pets and it’s unlikely you could get a license to own one. Usually, the only people who can keep badgers as pets are places like zoos or wildlife facilities, where they have experts that know what they are doing.
Another reason is that these animals are very, very aggressive, which makes them dangerous. They have sharp claws, a strong jaw, and sharp teeth. Combine this with aggressiveness, making for a deadly combination.
If they feel like they are being cornered or threatened, they will absolutely attack you and could cause some damage. Because of these reasons, it is not a good idea to keep a badger as a pet.
These are wild animals that can’t be tamed or kept in captivity. You can try, but the result will not be good for you.
Do Badgers Attack People?
Mostly, badgers won’t attack people provided humans keep their distance from them. They don’t want to even be around people, but if they feel cornered, they will lash out and attack.
There have been only one or two instances that are known to the public of badgers attacking humans. One case involved a badger named Boris who lived at the Vale Wildlife rescue.
He escaped and then he ended up biting two men, a woman and her dog, and another man after running into his garage. The one in his garage even had to go to the hospital for his bites!
Another case of a badger attacking a human was seen via viral online video where a man was bitten by a badger at a BBQ party.
For some reason or another, a man showed up to the party holding one in his arms. The man that got bit wanted to pet it and when he did, it bit down on his hand.
These two cases are rare, but should serve as a warning for anyone who has ever thought of getting a badger as a pet. It is simply not a good idea to have one because they might cause serious injury to you.
Wild animals should stay where they are supposed to be in the wild.
How do I Stop Badgers From Coming Into my Garden?
There are actually a few ways to stop badgers from coming into your garden. Some of these ways include:
· Use a wire mesh fence
· Motion sensor lights
· Garden scares, which the badger will think of as another person being in the area. They like to avoid people so this might deter them from going into your garden and destroying it.
· Natural scents can deter them. Chili peppers or citronella oil are an option.
If it is in doubt, you can always contact an expert who knows how to get rid of badgers from gardens. This is something you can do by going on google and checking out what experts are in the area. We usually list this as the last resort because hiring an expert can get a little pricey. However, sometimes it’s difficult for people to do them on their own so an expert might be the only way to go.
Final Thoughts
And there we have it, animal lovers out there! You now know that badgers are excellent climbers and can climb trees, fences, and walls which is pretty amazing in its own right.
They are formidable wild animals and are meant to only exist in the wild or amongst experts like in a zoo or wildlife reserve. Under no circumstances can they be kept as pets because they are wild animals that belong in the wild.
It’s important that this is where they stay.
