In the wild, you’re either predator, prey, or both. Wolves are kings of the great outdoors and don’t face much danger. Due to their preference for eating large hoofed mammals like deer, elk, bison, and moose, wolves are carnivores. Additionally, they pursue smaller mammals including hares, rats, and beavers.
Adults may consume 20 pounds of meat in one sitting. Body posture, scent marking, growling, barking, and howling are all ways that wolves converse. When you think of animals that wolves prefer, a badger may not be at the top of the list.
The North American badger has a weak chin, a strong torso, and short, stubby legs. The animal has a broad, flat head and a bushy tail. Their cheeks tend to be darker, and they typically have gray coats with a white stripe running from their backs to their noses. The animal ranges from around 9 inches to about 29 inches in length.
A badger’s den is called a sett or set. It consists of a system of tunnels and several openings are typically present. The largest setts include up to 300 meters of tunnels and up to 40 entrances, making them large enough to house 15 or more animals.
A video showcases a mother badger with her two adorable babies, relaxing just outside of the sett opening. By the time the sun goes down, the critters make their way inside of their den to hunker down for the night. Little did they know, that a wolf would sniff out their home.
On a Mission
Just like a German Shepard on your brand new lawn, the wolf begins to dig and make his way into the sett. Eventually, we see another wolf enter the picture. Thankfully for the badger family, the apex predators get bored and move on with their night.
Similarly to waking up to see your trees covered in toilet paper, the mother badger notices her home has been vandalized. It’s a small price to pay for the safety of her babies. She takes her little ones to another sett close by as the other adult badger stays in the one attacked by wolves.
It’s safe to assume the wolf was marking the den to return to. They have an excellent sense of smell and likely knew there was a potential meal inside. A wolf’s sense of smell plays a significant role in how it moves through its environment. When paired with the outside borders of the nostrils, the complex topography of its nose’s tip produces a pattern that is as unique as a person’s fingerprint.
Thankfully, the badgers made it out okay and the wolf is left to find something else to eat.
Up Next
- Watch An Invincible Honey Badger Survive a 20ft Python, Then Defeat Two Jackals in Tug of War
- Honey Badger Lives Up to Fearless Reputation Battling SIX Lions at Once
- Watch a Wolf Chase a Bear on a Completely Normal Day in Alaska
- Watch A Gray Wolf Patiently Stalk An Elk In a Rushing River at Yellowstone
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