Badgers are frequently seen in the Prairies, but a recent federal evaluation indicates that they are susceptible to similar threats as the endangered populations in Ontario and British Columbia.
The American badger, the sole badger species on the continent, belongs to the weasel family and is categorized into three populations by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). In December, the advisory panel labeled the “Kootenay, Prairies and Rainy River” population, which includes badgers in the Prairie provinces, parts of southeastern British Columbia, and northwestern Ontario, as “special concern.”
The other two populations in southwestern Ontario and the B.C. Interior are classified as endangered, with fewer than 250 adult badgers estimated in each region by COSEWIC.
Chris Johnson, a University of Northern British Columbia professor and COSEWIC terrestrial mammals subcommittee member, mentioned the challenges in estimating badger numbers due to their elusive behavior. He emphasized the various risks and threats badgers face in Canada, such as habitat loss, vehicle collisions, and intentional killing by landowners.
Johnson emphasized the need for proactive management to prevent badgers from further declining in population status. The designation of “special concern” by COSEWIC indicates the necessity for measures to protect the species from reaching threatened or endangered levels at the federal level.
A significant cause of badger mortality is vehicle collisions, as highlighted by the Wildlife Watch Program in Alberta, reporting 112 badger roadkill carcasses in 2024. Chris Fisher, a wildlife biologist, noted the common occurrence of badgers near roads due to their preference for digging burrows in sloped ditches where Richardson’s ground squirrels, a primary prey, are found.
Habitat loss poses a significant threat to the endangered badger populations in southwestern Ontario and the B.C. Interior, attributed to urban expansion encroaching on their former habitats. The decline of Canada’s grasslands, recognized as one of the most endangered ecosystems globally, has further endangered various species, including the American badger, a crucial component of the grassland ecosystem.
Described as “ecosystem engineers,” badgers play a pivotal role in shaping their habitat, with their burrows supporting diverse wildlife. However, they face persecution from humans, often targeted due to the damage their burrows can cause to livestock and property.
Despite being classified as a sensitive species in Alberta, badgers are subject to hunting and trapping as furbearers. Landowners are permitted to remove badgers from their property, although conservation efforts are necessary to ensure their long-term survival. Fisher advocates for awareness and protective measures to safeguard badger populations, including respecting active dens during construction activities.
