Badgers, commonly found on the Prairies, are facing similar threats to endangered populations in Ontario and British Columbia, according to a recent federal assessment. The American badger, the sole badger species in North America, is divided into three populations by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), which evaluates the at-risk status of native species and advises the federal government.
In December, the advisory panel identified the “Kootenay, Prairies, and Rainy River” population, covering badgers across the Prairie provinces and parts of British Columbia and Ontario, as a “special concern.” The other two populations in southwestern Ontario and the B.C. Interior are considered endangered, with fewer than 250 adult badgers estimated in each region.
Chris Johnson, a professor at the University of Northern British Columbia and a member of the COSEWIC terrestrial mammals subcommittee, highlighted the challenges in estimating badger numbers due to their elusive nature. He emphasized the various risks badgers face in Canada, including habitat loss, vehicle collisions, and intentional killing by landowners.
The “special concern” designation by COSEWIC indicates the need for careful management to prevent the species from reaching threatened or endangered status at the federal level. Vehicle collisions are a significant cause of badger fatalities, with the government of Alberta reporting 112 badger roadkill carcasses in 2024.
Wildlife biologist Chris Fisher noted that badgers are often found near roads due to their preference for digging burrows in sloped ditches, where Richardson’s ground squirrels, a key prey, are also present. However, this proximity to roads increases their vulnerability to collisions, especially at night when badgers are more active and rely on their sense of smell rather than sight.
The loss of habitat poses a significant threat to the endangered badger populations in southwestern Ontario and the B.C. Interior. Fisher explained that urban sprawl encroaching on former badger habitats restricts the available land for these species. The decline in Canada’s grasslands, one of the most endangered ecosystems globally, has further exacerbated the challenges faced by various species, including the American badger.
Described as “ecosystem engineers,” badgers play a crucial role in the grassland ecosystem by creating burrows used by numerous other species. However, they are often persecuted by humans due to perceived threats to livestock and property. Despite being classified as a sensitive species in Alberta since 2000, badgers can still be legally hunted and trapped, with landowners allowed to eliminate them on their property.
Efforts to protect badgers and their habitats, such as maintaining a safe distance from active dens during construction activities, are crucial to the conservation of these iconic North American species.