When do badgers give birth?

Answer 1

Badgers have unusual breeding patterns since mating can take place almost any time of the year. February is the peak month of the badger's main mating season. After mating, an unusual feature of the badger's reproductive system called delayed implantation occurs. The fertilised eggs, are kept in a state of suspended development in the womb until something causes them to implant onto the wall of the uterus, when they continue their development normally, until they implant in late December or early January. After a further 6 - 7 weeks of gestation, Badger cubs are born from late January to early March, with most in the first half of February (during early spring so that, after weaning, food for the hungry cubs is becoming more plentiful) New-born badger cubs are covered in grey silky hairs and usually the dark facial stripes are already visible. New cubs are about 12cm long (plus a 3-4cm tail), weigh about 75-130g and their eyes are closed for about 5 weeks. Badger cubs are fed on their mothers milk, and often live within a special nursery chamber within the sett. Their waste products are removed from the nesting chamber by the sow, until such time as they are mobile enough to use the latrines outside the sett. Weaning usually begins when the cubs are at least three months old. During this time they feed on some solid food, particularly earthworms, and follow the mother when she goes off to feed herself. Sense of smell is the most important sense for badger cubs, since the first two months or more of their lives are spent in darkness below ground where smell, hearing and touch are far more useful than sight. Even at three months old, the cubs are still very short-sighted. By following the example of their parents they also learn to use the "latrines" sited near the sett. Dry, clean bedding is of great importance for the survival of the cubs. A chamber full of hay, straw and bracken acts as an efficient heat insulator, helping the cubs conserve their body heat. The straw will prevent the cubs being too battered by cold draughts; and it will insulate their little bodies from the cold soil underneath where they lie down.

Answer 2

The females are the primary caretakers of young badgers. They care for them for well over a year and are the sole food providers for their offspring. By the time the young badgers are ready to go off on their own, they consume at least half of what the mother catches.

Answer 3

Yes, by protecting it from any predator around the area with their claws.

Answer 4

Badgers mate in August and September

Answer 5

they poo on each other

Answer 6

about 3 to 4 years old

Answer 7

by jumping