How many badgers live in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is the “Badger State,” yet the state animal remains a mystery to most Wisconsin residents. Though no one knows exactly how many badgers live here, trends data does show that badgers are faring well on the landscape today. The Wisconsin nickname misleads many: It pays homage not to the animal, but to the lead miners who mimicked badgers by holing up for the winter in underground shelters in the southwestern part of the state. Uncovering information about badgers in Wisconsin is about as difficult as unearthing a badger from its burrow. The Department of Natural Resources keeps accurate census records of game species like deer and grouse, as well as rare species like the timber wolf and ornate box turtle, but no one keeps as exacting a tally of how many badgers live in the state. “They do fall between the cracks, no question,” said Petersen. “They’re not a nuisance concern. At the same time they are abundant enough that we are not concerned about their demise.” In 1961, H. H. T
Wisconsin is the “Badger State,” yet the state animal remains a mystery to most Wisconsin residents. Though no one knows exactly how many badgers live here, trends data does show that badgers are faring well on the landscape today. The Wisconsin nickname misleads many: It pays homage not to the animal, but to the lead miners who mimicked badgers by holing up for the winter in underground shelters in the southwestern part of the state. Uncovering information about badgers in Wisconsin is about as difficult as unearthing a badger from its burrow. The Department of Natural Resources keeps accurate census records of game species like deer and grouse, as well as rare species like the timber wolf and ornate box turtle, but no one keeps as exacting a tally of how many badgers live in the state. “They do fall between the cracks, no question,” said Petersen. “They’re not a nuisance concern. At the same time they are abundant enough that we are not concerned about their demise.” In 1961, H. H. T
