Description
The European Badger (Meles meles) is a mammal indigenous to France. It inhabits deciduous and mixed woodlands, hedgerows, and pastureland across europe.
Habitat
Extended Data
Taxonomy
Fun Facts
European badgers live in extensive underground tunnel systems called setts, some of which have been continuously occupied for hundreds of years
A single sett can have over 50 entrances and extend up to 100 meters underground with multiple chambers
France's badger population is stable, though they face localized threats from road collisions and culling related to bovine tuberculosis control
In French folklore, 'le blaireau' is associated with stubbornness and determination — the French word 'blairaut' means 'to smell out' something
Badgers are incredibly clean animals — they regularly change their bedding material and build dedicated latrines away from their sleeping chambers