American Badger
Saturday was an especially good day for me. Any day out with my camera is a good day, but it is an especially good day when I am able to make a photograph of a particular species for the first time. This american badger gave me about 30 seconds for that opportunity before a loud clap of thunder scared him and he scurried down his burrow.
I was lucky to even get off a shot. I was driving along a gravel road through Valentine NWR. Just after I rumbled over a cattle guard I caught a glimpse of a small critter as he (she?) darted across the road in front of me and into a burrow about 30 feet from the edge of the road. I had no idea it was a badger until it poked his head out of the burrow and looked me right in the eye. I opened the car window and fired off a burst with the Pentax K5 and Pentax DA*300mm. I refocused and fired another burst and then he was gone.
Everything I’ve read about American Badgers describes them as aggressive, fierce and fearless. As he looked at me, I’m sure he was just sizing me up in case he had to take me out if I got too close. About an hour later, after the thunderstorm passed, I went back to the burrow to get another look at him. I hung around in my car for about 15 minutes but I didn’t see him again. I’m sure he had his eye on me though . . .
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American Badger: Pentax K5 w/ Pentax DA*300mm 1/125s at f/4.0 iso 400
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Date: June 20, 2011
Categories: Wildlife
