Humane Badger Removal in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Badgers are a protected species in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin DNR recommends using a combination of abatement measures to address badger activity whenever possible. In situations where removal is necessary, permitting and proper handling are required by law.
Contact the certified wildlife removal specialists at Advanced Wildlife and Pest Control to discuss your options for resolving a badger issue, including assistance with the nuisance animal removal permit process. We follow humane badger removal practices, ensuring the safe capture and release of the animal in accordance with state regulations.
Keep Badgers Out of Your Yard!
Keep badgers away with our wildlife management and exclusions in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Give Us a Call Today!Badger Damage
Badger burrowing can pose a serious risk to lawns, agricultural fields, and roads. Their extensive digging can damage dams and ditches, resulting in flooding. Badgers can also cause erosion and the collapse of roads when they dig into the shoulders of roads. Additionally, badgers will occasionally prey on livestock and poultry. They are also susceptible to rabies and canine distemper.
- Badger Identification -
What Does a Badger Look Like?
American badgers have a triangular-shaped face marked by a distinct black-and-white pattern, including black patches on each cheek and a bold white stripe running from the nose to the back of the head. They have a stout, low-profile body with short, powerful legs and long front claws adapted for digging. Their fur is typically tan to off-white, with black and brown guard hairs that create a grizzled appearance. Adult American badgers can reach 2 to 3 feet in length and weigh up to 30 pounds.
Behavior & Habits
Badgers are strong diggers capable of tunneling through compacted soil, roadbeds, and even thin concrete. These solitary animals spend much of their time excavating burrows to hunt for prey and create underground dens. A single badger may maintain multiple burrows, which are used for resting, shelter, and raising young. During the winter, badgers go into a state of inactivity, but they are not true hibernators. When burrows are abandoned, they are frequently taken over by other wildlife and reused as den sites.
Badger Prevention
Badgers can excavate large amounts of soil, leaving deep burrow openings that damage lawns, landscapes, and crop fields. Because badgers prefer open habitats, broad habitat modification and exclusion are often challenging. However, when protecting smaller areas, such as beneath decks, sheds, or other structures, targeted exclusion can be effective.
Our heavy-duty mesh fencing is installed 12 to 18 inches deep and angled outward, preventing badgers from burrowing underneath and gaining access. For situations involving ongoing activity or property damage, contact our certified wildlife specialists to discuss humane badger removal and exclusion solutions.
- Badger FAQs -
Frequently Asked Questions
What do badgers eat?
Badgers are omnivores that mainly prey on ground squirrels, moles, mice, rabbits, and other small mammals. They dig their prey out of the ground with their strong, sharp claws. They will also eat snakes, birds, frogs, insects, and occasionally plants such as corn or berries.
Where do badgers live?
Badgers prefer to live in open areas such as pastures, prairies, farmlands, and meadows. While badgers can be found statewide, they are most common in western and central Wisconsin. A badger’s den consists of a network of tunnels and chambers. The entrance tends to have a large amount of displaced soil around it and is about 10 to 12 inches wide. These dens serve various purposes, such as sleeping, hunting, storing food, and giving birth.
When do badgers have babies?
American badgers mate in late summer and usually give birth to two to three cubs between March and June the following spring. The young are weaned at about three months of age. They will remain with the female through the summer, and then they leave to find their own territories. The American badger is a solitary animal except during the mating season.
How long do badgers live?
The average lifespan of an American badger in the wild is three to five years. Bobcats, cougars, wolves, and bears prey upon badgers, but humans pose the greatest threat to this species. Automobiles and farm equipment tend to be the major causes of death.
What does badger poop look like?
Badgers typically cover their scat, so it is not often found. The animal’s diet heavily determines the appearance and size of badger poop. A high intake of worms results in wet, soft, sausage-shaped poop. If you suspect the droppings around your home may be from a badger, their distinct sweet odor can be a telltale sign.
What do badger tracks look like?
Badgers walk in a pigeon-toed fashion, so their tracks point inward. They have large paws, which leave wide and blocky imprints. The front tracks measure 2-3 inches long and 2 inches wide. The front claws are very long and extend about an inch ahead of their toes, leaving noticeable marks. The hind tracks are slightly smaller, and the rear claw marks usually do not make an imprint.
Illustration by Dan Goodman