Examples of animals like badgers include weasels, ferrets, stoats, polecats, mink, martens, wolverines, fishers, skunks, and otters.
There are 65 distinct species in this category, which include weasels, badgers, ferrets, stoats, polecats, mink, martens, wolverines, fishers, skunks, and otters.
Badgers are one of the most easily identifiable animals in the United States.
They have a distinctive black and white striped back, and a small head with a short snout.
However, there are several other animals that share these same physical characteristics, so it can be tricky to tell them apart.
In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the animals that people often mistake for badgers.
Examples of Animals that Look Like Badgers
Examples of Animals that Look Like Badgers
Scientific NameCivettictis civettaType of AnimalMammalRangesouthern and central Africa
The African civet is a large mammal that looks somewhat like a cross between a cat and a raccoon.
It has a long body, short legs, and a striped coat.
African civets are found in Africa, where they inhabit forests and woodlands.
They are nocturnal animals and spend most of their time in trees.
African civets are not closely related to badgers, but they do share some physical similarities.
Scientific NameNeovison visonType of AnimalMammalRangeNorth America
Minks are small, sleek, semiaquatic creatures with dark brown fur and a white underbelly.
They are members of the weasel family, and their closest relatives are otters and stoats.
Minks are native to North America, and they can be found in every US state except Hawaii.
Minks are solitary animals, and they are most active at night.
Scientific NameMustela nigripesType of AnimalMammalRangecentral North America
The American polecat is also known as the black-footed ferret.
It is a small, carnivorous mammal that is native to North America.
Polecats are members of the weasel family, which includes animals such as minks, otters, and wolverines.
They have a long, slender body with short legs and a pointed face.
Their fur is brown or yellowish-brown in color, and they have black feet.
The Asian palm civet is a small, stocky mammal that is found in southeastern Asia.
They have a black and white striped coat, and a short snout.
Asian palm civets are often mistaken for badgers because of their physical similarities.
However, there are some key differences between the two animals.
For one, palm civets are much smaller than badgers.
They also have a long, ringed tail, whereas badgers do not.
The banded mongoose is a small mammal that is native to Africa.
They are closely related to meerkats and look very similar to them.
Mongooses are small animals with long bodies and short legs.
Banded mongooses have a stripe of darker fur running down their backs.
They are about the same size as a badger and can weigh up to 10 pounds.
6. Black Mongoose
6. Black Mongoose
One of the animals that are often confused for a badger is the black mongoose.
This is because they share many of the same physical characteristics, such as the black and white striped back.
For one, black mongooses have a longer snout and smaller ears.
Finally, the black mongoose is native to Africa, while badgers are found in North America.
Scientific NameMustela nigripesType of AnimalMammalRangeWyoming, South Dakota, Montana and Arizona
The black-footed ferret is a small carnivore that is native to North America.
It’s a species in the genus Mustela and is closely related to other mustelids such as weasels, otters, and minks.
The black-footed ferret is the size of a house cat, with a long body and short legs.
It has a black mask around its eyes, and its fur is mostly brown or tan, with black feet and a black-tipped tail.
Related Article: Can Black-Footed Ferret See in the Dark?
Scientific NameHelogale parvulaType of AnimalMammalRangeSomalia and Ethiopia to eastern South Africa and Namibia
The common dwarf mongoose is a small mammal that is native to Africa.
It is one of the most commonly mistaken animals for a badger, due to its similar appearance.
The main difference between the two animals is that the dwarf mongoose has a long tail, while the badger does not.
Scientific NameSpilogale putoriusType of AnimalMammalRange North America
The eastern spotted skunk is a small, stocky mammal with short legs and a long body.
It has black fur with white spots on its back, sides, and head.
It also has two stripes that run down its back from its head to its tail.
The eastern spotted skunk is about the same size as a badger, but it has a much more slender body.
The Egyptian mongoose is a small mammal that is closely related to the meerkat.
It is about the size of a domestic cat and has a long body with short legs.
It is covered in short, bristly fur that is usually yellowish-brown or grey in color.
Scientific NameMustela lutreolaType of AnimalMammalRangeEastern Europe (Romania, Russian Federation, Ukraine) and Spain and France
The European mink is a small carnivorous mammal of the mustelid family.
Mustelids also include weasels, otters, and ferrets.
The European mink is the only member of the genus Mustela that is found in Europe.
The European mink has a long, slender body with short legs.
European minks can grow to be about 20 inches long and weigh up to 2 pounds.
Scientific NameMustela putoriusType of AnimalMammalRangeNorth Africa and western Eurasia
The European polecat is a mustelid that is found throughout Europe and parts of Asia.
It is about the same size as a badger and has a similar black and white striped back.
However, the European polecat has a long, skinny body, and its head is much more elongated than that of a badger.
Scientific NamePekania pennantiType of AnimalMammalRangeNorth America
Fishers are often mistaken for badgers because of their similar appearance.
They have a small head, short legs, and a long body covered in dark brown fur.
However, fishers are actually members of the weasel family.
They are significantly smaller than badgers, weighing only 3-6 pounds.
Fishers also have a bushy tail, while badgers have a short stubby tail.
The Irish stoat is a member of the mustelid family, which includes weasels, otters, and ferrets.
Some Irish stoat has a black and white striped back, just like a badger.
It also has a small head with a short snout.
The Irish stoat is smaller than a badger, however, and its fur is red on the sides and belly.
The Malayan civet (Hemigalus derbyanus) is a small carnivore that is found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia.
It has a black and white striped coat and a long body with short legs.
While it may resemble a badger, it is actually more closely related to the mongoose.
Scientific NameAtilax paludinosusType of AnimalMammalRangesub-Saharan Africa
The Marsh Mongoose is a small mammal that is found in Africa, specifically in marshy areas.
It has a long body and a short tail, and its fur is brown or grey in color.
The Marsh Mongoose is often mistaken for a badger because of its physical appearance, but it is actually more closely related to the cat family.
Scientific NamePaguma larvataType of AnimalMammalRangesouthern and Southeast-Asia
The masked palm civet (Paguma larvata) is a small, nocturnal mammal that is found in forests throughout Southeast Asia.
It gets its name from the black mask-like markings around its eyes.
The rest of its body is covered in short, dark fur.
Masked palm civets are about the same size as a domestic cat, and they have a long tail that is nearly as long as their body.
Palm civets are good climbers, and they spend most of their time in trees.
They eat fruits, insects, and small animals.
Palm civets are sometimes hunted for their meat, but they are also captured and sold as pets.
Scientific NameSuricata suricattaType of AnimalMammalRangeAfrica
The meerkat is a small mammal that is native to Africa.
It is closely related to the suricate and the mongoose.
Meerkats are easily recognizable by their striped coats and long tails.
Meerkats are known for their ability to stand upright on their hind legs and look around for predators.
While meerkats may resemble badgers in some ways, they are actually quite different animals.
For one thing, meerkats are much smaller than badgers, averaging only about 2 pounds in weight.
They also have different diets, with meerkats eating mostly insects and small reptiles.
Lastly, meerkats are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day, while badgers are nocturnal animals that sleep during the day and come out at night to hunt.
Scientific NameCynogale bennettiiType of AnimalMammalRangeSoutheast Asia and Indonesia
The otter civet (Cynogale bennettii) is a member of the Mustelidae family, which includes weasels, stoats, ferrets, and wolverines.
It is native to Southeast Asia and can be found in countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand
Scientific NameMephitis mephitisType of AnimalMammalRangeNorth America from southern Canada into northern Mexico
The striped skunk is the most common type of skunk in North America.
It gets its name from the black and white stripes that run down its back.
These animals are about the same size as a badger, and they also have small heads with a short snout.
The biggest difference between these two animals is that skunks can spray a foul-smelling liquid from their anal glands as a form of self-defense.
Read Also: 22 Animals that Look Like Skunks
The wolverine is the largest member of the weasel family.
It is a stocky and muscular animal with short legs, large feet, and a bushy tail.
Wolverines are dark brown or black in color, and they have a light-colored stripe running down their backs.
They are found in forested areas of North America, Europe, and Asia.
Wolverines are often mistaken for badgers because of their similar appearance.
However, wolverines are much larger than badgers, and they have longer legs and a wider heads.
Wolverines also do not have the characteristic black and white stripes on their back.
Animals like badgers are not just in North America and Africa.
They can be found all over the world, including Asia, Europe, Australia, and South America.
There is a variety of animals that share some physical similarities to badgers but also have key differences such as size or habitat preferences.
Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal.
Badgers have many distinctive features in their general appearance and their behavior pattern.
Still, many animals in the world also exhibit the same properties as badgers do.
In this article, we are going to highlight all the animals like badgers or animals similar to badgers.Animals Similar to badgers.ContentsMustelid familyAnimals that look like badgers1) Otters2) Weasels3) Minks4.
Stink badgers7.
StoatFrequently asked questionsWhat are badger type animals?What Animals Look Like Honey Badgers?ConclusionMustelid familyBefore going deep into this article, let me tell you something about the mustelid family.
There are almost 65 distinct species in this family and the most prominent among these are weasels, ferrets, badgers, martens, wolverines, otters, skunks, etc.
They exist all over the world except in places like Antarctica and Australia.
These are small animals that vary based on their body shape and the size of their legs or tail.
These animals have small eyes and short faces with round ears.
They come with dense but soft fur and that’s the main commercial aspect in the hunting of these animals.These are omnivore animals but preferably eat meat.
These release special musk or scent from their anal glands as a warning sign to keep off predators.Let’s discuss other badger-type animals that also exhibit the same features as badgers.Animals that look like badgersSeveral animals exhibit the same properties as badgers.
Let’s discuss these animals one by one.1) OttersThese are the mammals that you can mostly find in Europe, Asia, and North and South America.
These animals like to eat fish, frogs, and crabs.
The size of the otter varies from one specie to another.
The life span varies from 10 to 20 years.
They have short limbs and fur-covered bodies same as badgers.But otters are slim body animals as compared to stout body of badgers.
They like to spend most of their time near any water body to keep their fur waterlogged.
They are not nocturnal animals and remain active throughout the day above ground.Otter – Example2) WeaselsIt is a small mammal that is carnivorous by nature and very fond of rodents.
They mainly exist in Eurasia, Africa, and North America.
On average, they are 12-14 inches long and with just a tail of 2-3 inches.
They have a long head, short limbs, and fur-covered bodies same as badgers.Winter is their favorite season.
They don’t make their own dens and like to occupy the dens of other animals.
The average life span of the weasel is 7-8 years.
They also release special scents from their glands for marking their territory.A weasel on the hunt.3) MinksA semiaquatic animal that is very well known for its glossy but dark fur.
On average, the life span of minks varies between 5 to 10 years.
A mink can be 12 to 18 inches long and weigh around 1 to 4 pounds.On average, they can produce 16 kits as compared to just 1 to 5 cubs by badgers at a time.
The species usually exist in the areas like American and European continents.
They are territorial in nature same as badgers but they remain active throughout the day rather than at the night.Mink – Example4.
FisherA very tall but small mammal 10 to 47 inches in length and weigh around 4 to 13 pounds.
The body shape is almost the same as a badger.
They like to take a mixed diet of both meat and fruit.They mainly exist in the forests of North America and mainly reside in hollow trees.
Like badgers, they can also produce 1 to 4 kits at a time.
On average, they can live up to 10 years.
They like to do all the activities in the daytime rather than in the nighttime.A Fisher in rocks.5.
WolverinesIt is a heavyweight mammal that has a fully fur-covered body.
They are fearless mammals like badgers and like to challenge very large animals.
They are very tough animals and can easily make dens in snowy areas.
Many times badgers encounter wolverines.
Stink badgersStink badgers or false badgers are also a part of the skunk family.
Physically, they are very much the same as badgers and also release a very fouling smell.
It is a nocturnal and omnivore mammal that mainly resides in the Asian continent.
Like badgers, worms and insects are the favorite diets of stink badgers.They are 13 to 20 inches long and weigh around 2 to 8 pounds.
The life span of the stink badgers varies between 10 to 16 years.
KinkajouKinkajou or honey bears are short snouts having round ears.
They are furry mammal who likes to make a home in rainforests.
They are nocturnal in nature and mainly rely on fruits for their diet.
Being good climbers, they make their homes on the trees where they remain for a much longer period.The life span of the kinkajou also varies between 20 to 30 years.
They come with a very long tail.
Like badgers, they also release scents from their glands and are very playful animals.Kinkajou on a tree branch.8.
RaccoonsThese are North American mammals and like to live in forest-type habitats but you can also see them in urban areas.
Like badgers, they are nocturnal animals and like to eat insects and worms.
They have a very short lifestyle in the wilderness but they can live up to 25 years in captivity.They like to forage alone but overall prefer social groups.
They are 16 to 28 inches long and weigh anywhere around 7 to 20 pounds.
They are 16 to 28 inches long and weigh anywhere around 7 to 20 pounds.
CivetsCivets are omnivore mammals who reside in the mountains and woodlands of Africa and Asia.
These are small limbed and round ears mammals having a furry bodies.
They also like to eat fruits.
They are 17 to 28 inches long and the tail is also a little bit longer than other mammals.
They have white stripes throughout the black-furred body.
They release a very sweet smell and on average live up to 20 years.A civet in the jungle.10.
OlingosThey have a very close relationship with raccoons and also like to live in rainforest-type areas.
They have short limbs and round ears like badgers.
They are herbivores and also like to eat fruit.
They also make their homes in the rainforests and keep themselves safe from many dangerous predators.They are 14 to 17 inches and weigh anywhere around 2 to 3 pounds.
They have short claws which they mainly use for climbing rather than digging like badgers.
The life span of the Olingos varies between 10 to 25 years.Olingo – Example11.
SkunkSkunks have a lot of similarities with stink badgers.
They are 15 to 37 inches long and weigh anywhere around 2 to 10 pounds.Like badgers, they have muscular bodies and sharp claws which makes them perfect diggers.
The lifespan of the skunk varies between 3 to 15 years.
Like badgers, they are nocturnal animals and spend most of the winter period inside their homes.Skunks have many similarities to badgers.12.
MongooseThese are the round face and very cute animals with round eyes and ears.
They have short limbs like badgers as well as a fur coats.
They have almost 34 different species in the world that vary in terms of size, weight, height, etc.
They are 7 to 28 inches long and weigh around 5 to 10 pounds.Like badgers, they like to reside in areas like grasslands, and open fields in Africa and Europe.
By having long claws, they like to dig more often like badgers.
However, they like to socialize a lot and mostly in a pack of as many as 30 animals.
On average, they live for 10 to 12 years.Mongoose – Example13.
They are domesticated animals and have mostly been kept as pets since ancient times.
They belong to the same family as badgers and are mainly spotted in several remote areas of New Zealand.
They are carnivore animals and like to eat live prey.
They dance a lot and make clucking noises when they are fully excited.On average, they are 20 inches long and weigh around 2 to 5 pounds.
They have round ears and tiny limbs like badgers.
On average, they live between 5 to 10 years.Pet Ferrets14.
PolecatsPolecats have a lot of similarities with animals like skunks and ferrets.
They like to live in dry climates in Europe and Africa.
You can find them in the grasslands of Europe and savannas of Africa.
Several species of polecats mainly vary in terms of their color.
They are 11 to 18 inches long and weigh anywhere around 1 to 5 pounds.Like badgers, they are nocturnal and territorial by nature and mostly like to eat animals like snakes, birds, rodents, etc.
On average, they live around 10 to 15 years.European Polecat15.
MartensThere are a lot of similarities between badgers and martens.
For instance, they are omnivores and change their diet according to season and mostly rely on birds, fruits, and small mammals.
They also have similar ears to badgers but have retractable claws and bushy tails.They are short-limbed animals having very less weight anywhere around 1 to 3 pounds.
Although they are 20 to 28 inches long.
Some of their species also exhibit nocturnal properties like a badger but most of them remain active throughout the day.
MeerkatA small animal that mainly resides in Africa.
It has a lot of similarities with the mongoose.
You can easily identify them from their long tails and striped coats.
They like to socialize and mostly live with a pack of 30 animals.
They are very famous for their “sentinel duty” in which they stand upright on their hind legs and search for predators.They are very small animals having just a weight of 2 pounds and mainly rely on reptiles and insects.
They are diurnal animals and mostly remain active throughout the day.Meerkat – Example17.
They have black & white striped body just like badgers.
They are very small animals having small heads and red-colored fur on their whole body.A Stoat posing on a rock.Frequently asked questionsWhat are badger type animals?Badgers belong to the mustelid family.
Several badgers type animals exhibit the same properties as badgers.
Mustelid is a family of very diverse species including martens, ferrets, otters, badgers, etc.
There is a total of 50 to 60 species with several subspecies.What Animals Look Like Honey Badgers?Honey badgers or ratel resembles many members of their family like otters, weasels, badgers, etc.
honey badgers also show a lot of resemblance with skunks in terms of coloring.ConclusionSeveral badger-type animals show some resemblance with badgers to some extent.
By going through this article, you can clarify your idea about all of the badger relatives or animals similar to badgers.
Some animals like skunks and polecats show a lot of similarities with badgers as compared to others who show less resemblance.