Montana wildlife: porcupines and badgers

October 21, 2013  •  Leave a Comment

Last week I saw a North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) next to and inside a burrow. In open areas (including grasslands) porcupines use and modify existing burrows made by other animals. I thought I would return with my camera a week later. However, there were only some quills and bones next to the burrow; the porcupine probably died at some point last week. A few hours later, just before dark, I noticed an American badger (Taxidea taxus). The animal was digging out a burrow of its own a few hundred meters from where the porcupine was eaten. My suspicion is that the badger killed and ate the porcupine, similar to Eurasian badgers and hedgehogs in Europe; badgers have powerful claws and can unroll hedgehogs and eat them starting at the belly...

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Image below: Porcupine burrow.

Burrow occupied by a North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), Montana, USABurrow occupied by a North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), Montana, USABurrow occupied by a North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), Montana, USA

Image below: Porcupine quills and bones (probably predated by the badger)

Porcupine leftovers, Montana, USAPorcupine leftovers, Montana, USAPorcupine leftovers, Montana, USA. I suspect that this particular porcupine was eaten by a badger that had a den nearby.

The nearby badger den with a badger footprint in the dirt.

American badger (Taxidea taxus) burrow, Montana, USAAmerican badger (Taxidea taxus) burrow, Montana, USAAmerican badger (Taxidea taxus) burrow, Montana, USA

 

 


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