Badgers are a familiar sight on the Prairies, but a recent federal evaluation indicates they are susceptible to similar risks as the endangered populations in Ontario and British Columbia.
The American badger, the sole badger species in North America, falls under three distinct populations as identified by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). In December, the advisory panel classified the “Kootenay, Prairies, and Rainy River” population, spanning the Prairie provinces, southeastern British Columbia, and northwestern Ontario, as “special concern.”
The remaining two populations in southwestern Ontario and the B.C. Interior are labeled as endangered, with estimates suggesting fewer than 250 adult badgers in each region.
Chris Johnson, a member of the COSEWIC terrestrial mammals subcommittee and a professor at the University of Northern British Columbia, highlights the challenges in estimating badger numbers due to their elusive behavior. Despite their rarity in the wild, badgers confront various risks jeopardizing their survival in Canada.
The assessment cites habitat loss, road incidents, and human-induced fatalities as primary threats to the badger population nationwide. Johnson emphasizes the necessity of managing these risks to prevent the species from further decline.
The designation of “special concern” by COSEWIC indicates the need for vigilant measures to safeguard the species from escalating to threatened or endangered status at the federal level.
Road collisions emerge as a leading cause of badger fatalities, as evidenced by Alberta’s Wildlife Watch Program, which recorded 112 badger roadkills in 2024. Wildlife biologist Chris Fisher from Calgary notes the frequent presence of badgers along roadsides, attributing their attraction to the ease of creating burrows in sloped ditches.
Furthermore, habitat loss poses a significant threat to the endangered badger populations in southwestern Ontario and the B.C. Interior. Fisher underscores the encroachment of urban development into former badger habitats, exacerbating the struggle for survival in these regions.
Recognized as significant contributors to the North American grassland ecosystem, badgers are deemed “ecosystem engineers” by University of Alberta professor Colleen Cassady St. Clair. Despite their ecological importance, badgers face persecution from humans due to concerns over property damage and livestock safety.
The environmental impact of badgers extends beyond their immediate presence, with their burrows providing shelter for numerous other species. Efforts to protect badgers involve balancing conservation needs with land use practices to mitigate conflicts and ensure their long-term survival.
In Alberta, badgers are classified as sensitive species, warranting special attention to prevent future endangerment. While they are legally classified as furbearers in the province, allowing hunting and trapping, landowners can also take measures to protect badgers on their properties.
With a focus on conservation and coexistence, initiatives are in place to safeguard badgers and their habitat, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures to sustain these iconic North American mammals.
