- I'm Coyote Peterson.
Now, we all know that the honey badger
doesn't give a you know what.
But, let me tell you who does,
his feisty cousin, the American badger.
Get ready, it's badger time.
Here we go.
(fast drumming)
Montana is famous for its epic landscapes,
from towering mountains to vast prairies.
There isn't a direction you can turn
without a breathtaking view.
Today we are headed into the backcountry of Bozeman,
to work with a resident of the grasslands,
and a subterranean power predator
that has become famous for it's cranky attitude
and resilience toward any foe
foolish enough to cross it's path.
And, while this American badger was born in captivity
and raised by humans to be an ambassador for her species,
is used to being in front of the cameras,
she still sits proudly atop her mammalian throne.
And, it going to command a great deal of respect.
That is the American badger.
This is one of my absolute favorites.
Since childhood, I have wanted to be
this close to a badger.
I've only seen one one other time in my life,
running across a freeway in Wyoming,
and now here I am just inches from that face.
Now, this is one of the members of the weasel family,
related to skunks, wolverines, otters,
and of course everybody's favorite, the honey badger.
In North America this one does give a you know what.
And, you can see she's digging down there,
she's got a little meat snack
that we hid for her in the dirt.
And, you would never wanna get this close to a badger.
And, the only reason I'm able to do this today
is because Moxie here has actually been raised in captivity,
and she's used educational purposes,
and the promotion of conservation of this species.
However, just because she's used to being around people
does not mean she's lost any of that wild instinct.
She's got claws, and she's got teeth
that prove she is one of the most ferocious mammals
here in North America.
Now, one of the most distinguishing features
about the American badger are those famous claws.
These mustelids are incredible diggers.
And, as you can see, Moxie has already
broken up a lot of this soil.
You see her digging down there?
What they'll do is sniff around in the ground
for grubs, they can sniff out prairie dogs,
ground squirrels, and they will just burrow down,
dive into the dirt like this, dig, dig, dig, dig, dig.
You wanna dig with me?
She says no, you dig, I'm not gonna dig.
Dig, dig, dig, dig, dig with me,
until she finds that ground squirrel or that prairie dog,
and then she's got her meal.
They may've named the X-Men character Wolverine
after this guy's big cousin, the true claws
in the mustelid family belong to the American badger.
(hissing)
Whoa, I hear ya.
I hear ya Moxie.
The badger is not the fastest member of the weasel family.
But, I will tell you what, you do not need
to be quick when you have these defensive abilities.
Let me see if I can get Moxie to show us
some of those classic, feisty badger antics of hers.
Now, let's say I'm a predator, like a coyote.
And, I come in, and I think, okay,
I might make a meal of this badger.
Let me show you what she will do.
(hissing)
That right there.
See that, hiss with the nose,
she'll put her butt up in the air.
They show you their claws, they show you the teeth,
and they hiss, and what you guys can't smell
is she releasing a musk, which is an odor
that all members of the weasel family have.
And, that basically says, if I'm a predator, back up,
I don't smell good, I probably don't taste good,
and if you think you're gonna get a bite outta me
you're gonna get a face full of teeth.
I have to be incredibly careful here.
Moxie is used to working with humans,
but you can obviously see, she still shows me
those famous badger defensive traits.
I don't want her to lunge me,
those sharp teeth get ahold of my fingers,
it's gonna be a bad situation.
(grunting and hissing)
It's just so cool being this close with a badger.
Getting to film literally in the strike zone.
All right, don't bite my finger though.
I'm like right in her snout as she's chomping away.
That is such a cool shot.
What an incredible experience,
being this close to the American badger.
Moxie truly is queen of the claws.
Do you guys know an animal that rivals a badger
when it comes to claw size?
Tell me about it in the comment section below.
I'm Coyote Peterson, be brave, stay wild.
We'll see ya on the next adventure.
If you thought getting up close with a feisty badger
was intense, make sure to go back and watch
as I enter an enclosure with
it's more ferocious cousin, the wolverine.
And, don't forget, subscribe, then click
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me and the crew on our next wild adventure.