: Their abandoned burrows provide critical shelter for burrowing owls , foxes, skunks, tiger salamanders, and even California red-legged frogs.

One of the most fascinating "useful" stories in nature is the hunting partnership between the American badger and the coyote.

: Despite their medium size (averaging 15–20 lbs), they are known to stand their ground against much larger predators like bears, wolves, and mountain lions .

A common misconception is that Wisconsin is called the "Badger State" because of the animal. The story is actually about humans:

: Ground squirrels are tricky. If they see a coyote, they run into their burrows. If they see a badger, they run out of their burrows to outrun the slow badger.

In the 1820s, iron ore miners in Wisconsin didn't have permanent homes, so they dug temporary shelters into the hillsides. These miners were nicknamed "badgers," and the name eventually stuck to the entire state. American Badger - Behind the Adventure

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