Badgers make home in Sabino Canyon

One badger burrow sits smack in the middle of the popular Bajada Loop Nature Trail in the canyon northeast of Tucson.

Rocks have been placed around the entrance of the burrow to mark its location and prevent hikers from stepping into it.

A biologist with the U.S. Forest Service said there are no plans to move the fierce carnivores or alter their burrows.

"For some reason, there have been a bunch of badgers showing up in the canyon - a whole lot more than I've ever had reported in the past," said wildlife biologist Joshua Taiz.

"I've seen several of them with my own eyes," Taiz said. "I saw one walking right here near our office."

Taiz said badgers have been known to live in Sabino Canyon, but have been much less evident in the past.

"I don't know why there apparently are more of them now," he said. "But one would assume that it would have something to do with the availability of prey."

The canyon has an overabundance of ground squirrels that could have attracted badgers in search of a ready feast, Taiz said.

He said he couldn't offer an accurate estimate of the number of badgers in the canyon.

The critters, members of the weasel family, have short legs, long claws and white-stripe markings. They prey mainly on burrowing rodents.

Taiz emphasized that "badgers are very fierce" and warned against approaching or harassing them.

"As with all wildlife, give them room," he said. "Try not to make them feel cornered. And be advised that there is a possibility of coming across one that is rabid."

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DID YOU KNOW

Badgers are mainly nocturnal, but they sometimes are seen in the early-morning hours.

Members of the weasel family, badgers have short legs, long claws and white-stripe markings. Adults are about 20 inches long and weigh 10 to 20 pounds.

Contact reporter Doug Kreutz at dkreutz@azstarnet.com or at 573-4192.