American Badger **(Taxidea taxus ssp. jacksoni)**

Status in Canada: Endangered

Status in Ontario: Endangered

Status at SWCR: Rare

The American badger is best recognized by its distinct head patterning. Its range in Ontario is very restricted.

Quick Facts:

It is a member of the Weasel family.
It is perfectly adapted for digging, with long, stout front digging claws, and short, flattened “scooping” back claws.
It is estimated that fewer than 200 individuals remain in southwestern Ontario.
It is a nocturnal carnivore that with a diverse diet including many of the small mammals we consider pests: woodchucks (groundhogs), mice, and voles.

Threats at the St. Williams Conservation Reserve:

Habitat Loss/Fragmentation and Low Population densities: Badger populations are declining because of genetic isolation due to fragmentation and conversion of habitat; and individual mortality (road-mortality, trapping, attacks from domestic dogs, and incidental death during land development and farming operations).

Activities that can damage critical badger habitat include:

Activities that can introduce or encourage the growth of invasive plants, such as dumping of garden waste and off-trail ATV use.
Activities that eliminate patches of dense understory or reduce structural complexity on the forest floor: Natural succession and canopy closure, excessive deer browsing.
Activities that interfere with understory shrubs, unauthorized plant collecting and off-trail ATV use.

St. Williams Conservation Reserve management practices:

Population monitoring
Forest thinning activities
Invasive plant control
Prescribed burns

What you can do to help:

Follow the code of conduct for recreational activities in the Conservation Reserve and know and respect the current trail-use regulations.
Clean your boots, bicycle tires, or ATV before and after visiting the SWCR or other natural areas to avoid spreading invasive plant seeds.
Report sightings to the SWCR CC, or the Natural Heritage Information Centre.
Report unauthorized trail use or any illegal activity related to plants and wildlife to 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667).