Badgers are frequently seen in the Prairies, but a recent federal evaluation indicates that they are at risk from the same dangers as endangered populations in Ontario and British Columbia.
The American badger, the sole badger species on this continent, is a large mustelid species, part of the weasel family. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has divided them into three populations and designated the “Kootenay, Prairies and Rainy River” population, which includes badgers across the Prairie provinces, parts of southeastern British Columbia, and northwestern Ontario, as a “special concern” in December.
The other two populations in southwestern Ontario and the B.C. Interior are classified as endangered, with an estimated population of fewer than 250 adult badgers in both regions. Chris Johnson, a member of the COSEWIC terrestrial mammals subcommittee, highlighted the challenges in estimating badger numbers due to their secretive nature. He emphasized that badgers face multiple risks and threats to their survival in Canada, including habitat loss, vehicle collisions, and deliberate killing by landowners.
Johnson stressed the need for proactive management to prevent badgers from further decline. Vehicle collisions, in particular, are a significant cause of badger fatalities, with data from Alberta’s Wildlife Watch Program showing 112 badger roadkill carcasses in 2024. Wildlife biologist Chris Fisher noted that badgers are attracted to roadsides for burrow digging and prey opportunities like Richardson’s ground squirrels.
The loss of habitat is a critical issue for the endangered badger populations in southwestern Ontario and the B.C. Interior. Fisher explained that urban expansion encroaching on their habitats contributes to their endangered status. Badgers play a vital role as “ecosystem engineers” in the grasslands, creating burrows used by numerous species. However, they are often persecuted by humans due to perceived threats to livestock and property damage.
Given their environmental significance, efforts are underway to protect badgers and their habitats. Fisher advocates for measures to safeguard badgers, such as maintaining a safe distance from active badger dens during construction activities. The classification of badgers as a sensitive species in Alberta since 2000 signifies the importance of their conservation, despite them being legally classified as furbearers that can be hunted or trapped in the province.