10 Brilliantly Odd Facts About Badgers 

May 14, 2025 • Grace Micere

Badgers are black-and-white burrowing creatures that somehow manage to be both cute and a little terrifying at the same time. Often misunderstood, sometimes meme-worthy, and always interesting — badgers deserve their moment in the spotlight. 

Let’s dive into 10 fun and slightly bizarre facts about one of Britain’s most elusive mammals. 

1. Badgers live in underground mansions. 

Badgers don’t just dig a hole, they build their little houses there too called "setts." These are elaborate tunnel networks with multiple entrances, sleeping areas, and even designated "toilets." Some setts are passed down through generations and can be over 100 years old.  

2. They're surprisingly clean animals. 

Despite being diggers and dwellers of dirt, badgers like to keep things tidy. They drag out old bedding and replace it with fresh grass or leaves. As mentioned above, they also designate toilet areas outside their setts to keep the smelly stuff away; fancy and smart. 

3. Badgers are part of the mustelid family. 

That means they’re related to otters, weasels, wolverines, and ferrets. A pretty wild family reunion, if you ask us. 

4. They're nocturnal ninjas. 

Badgers are creatures of the night. With excellent smell and hearing, they spend most of their evenings foraging for food and avoiding humans. Unless you’re creeping through the woods at dusk, chances are you’ve never seen one in the wild. 

5. They love earthworms. 

A single badger can munch its way through 200 earthworms a night. Not exactly a gourmet meal, but hey, it's high in protein and sustainably sourced. 

6. They don’t really hibernate. 

Badgers don’t fully hibernate like bears do, but they do go into a state called torpor during the coldest winter months. That means longer lie-ins, less food, and minimal activity. This is basically the badger version of binge-watching and nesting in blankets. 

7. Badgers can run quite fast. 

Despite their stubby legs and chunky build, badgers can reach speeds of up to 30 km/h (19 mph) in short bursts. That’s about as fast as Usain Bolt on a relaxed jog. Good luck catching one. 

8. They communicate with 16+ sounds. 

Badgers may seem silent, but they’re actually quite chatty. They growl, yelp, whicker, bark, and even purr — each sound meaning something different depending on the mood. It’s like living with a grumpy cat who also knows Morse code. 

9. They have a strong sense of smell. 

Badgers rely heavily on scent for navigation, communication, and finding food. Their sense of smell is hundreds of times more powerful than a humans, and they use scent marking to keep track of territory and family. 

10. They’ve made their mark in British culture. 

From Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows to the viral “Badger, Badger, Mushroom” song of early YouTube days (don’t pretend you’ve never seen it), badgers have long held a spot in British hearts and memes. 

Why Should We Care About Badgers 

Badgers might not make the front page of wildlife magazines or go viral on social media, but these shy, nocturnal creatures play a far more important role in our ecosystems than most people realize. Often misunderstood and even maligned, badgers deserve our attention. 

One of the most significant contributions badgers make is as “ecosystem engineers.” They’re natural diggers, creating complex underground networks known as setts. These burrows don’t just provide shelter for badgers themselves — they often become homes for other animals like rabbits, foxes, and insects once abandoned. Their digging also helps aerate the soil, improving its structure and allowing plant roots to thrive. In many ways, they act like silent landscapers, shaping the land from below in ways that support biodiversity. 

But beyond their direct contributions to the land, badgers also serve as indicators of environmental health. Because they’re sensitive to habitat disruption and pollution, a thriving badger population often signals a healthy local ecosystem. Conversely, their decline may hint at larger environmental problems — making them, in effect, early warning systems for the natural world. 

Bare Kind’s Contribution to Saving Badgers 

At Bare Kind, we donate 10% of the profit from our cosy badger socks to the Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital. The charity works to rescue, rehabilitate, and release injured and orphaned wildlife in the UK. 

Buy socks, save animals! You can help protect one of the UK’s beloved animals by simply making a bamboo sock purchase. We engineer our bamboo socks to conform to the contours of your feet, with highly elastic precision knit for a snug fit. 

In addition to being made from environmentally friendly material, bamboo animal socks are breathable, moisture-wicking, and comfy. This makes them great to wear as gym socks, work socks, or even dress socks. 

We recommend getting some matching pairs for yourself and your loved ones. They make the perfect gift for animal lovers! 

Final Thought: Badgers Are Surprisingly Brilliant 

They're strong, secretive, and a little bit sassy. Badgers may not get as much love as owls or foxes, but they’re truly one of the UK’s most fascinating mammals. Next time you're walking through the countryside, give a little nod to the underground empire of the badger — quietly ruling the night. 

At Bare Kind, we make novelty socks from bamboo fibre and donate 10% of all our profit to 35+ charity partners. We are B-Corp Certified, use 100% plastic-free packaging, and are 100% carbon neutral. The bamboo itself is 100% sustainably grown and great for the planet.   

You can be a part of the movement by buying the world’s most comfortable socks that save animals. It’s an easy but effective way to make a pawsitive impact from the comfort of your home or office.   

Explore our wide selection of colourful bamboo socks. We guarantee you’ll find something for everyone in the family – kids, and adults alike! 

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