Mobile Menu

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Accessible Travel
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • Hotel Zed Contest
    • It’s A Shore Thing Summer Getaway
    • Camel’s Hump Guest Ranch Getaway
    • Raft. Relax. Recharge
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • West Coast Traveller Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon
  • Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon

West Coast Traveller

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Accessible Travel
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • Hotel Zed Contest
    • It’s A Shore Thing Summer Getaway
    • Camel’s Hump Guest Ranch Getaway
    • Raft. Relax. Recharge
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • West Coast Traveller Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
You are here: Home / Travel / UPDATE: Endangered American badger raising kits in Williams Lake

A rare American badger with young kits is living on a lot in a Williams Lake neighbourhood. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

UPDATE: Endangered American badger raising kits in Williams Lake

May 13, 2022 //  by Ruth Lloyd

Share this:

Brandi Magnus and her husband Jim McIntyre are grateful to be off from work, but only because it has made it possible for them to witness something incredible.

The Williams Lake couple has been enjoying watching something special happening near their home, a rare American badger is raising three young kits in a den.

The couple had first spotted one adult badger digging the den last year, at first only catching a glimpse of something moving. Then they spotted the badger digging.

“It was like someone was out there with a shovel,” said McIntyre, of the flying dirt coming from the den.

There were more sightings of her during the spring and summer but then after heavy equipment came through the lot and cleared some growth in the summer, they saw no further sign of her.

They were very happy to see her return this spring.

“Then we were absolutely ecstatic to see three babies emerge about three days ago,” said Magnus.

Affection for the neighbouring badger family was clear in their voices as they spoke to Black Press Media.

“There’s my other girlfriend,” joked McIntyre as the badger emerged from the den. “I’ve always had a fascination with wolverines, but I’ve never had a fascination with badgers until this.”

They have observed the adult hunt gophers and return to the den to feed her young and witnessed her push the young kits back into the den when a deer came too close for her comfort.

They are enjoying the distraction from some of the more negative things going on in the world right now, and have been searching the internet to learn more about the species.

Magnus has also been trying to find out who to contact about the rare sighting, but other than a government site where she could write in a small report on seeing it, she has so far had no luck and no response.

“I just searched and searched the internet,” confessed Magnus, finally deciding to get in touch with the media in the hopes something could be done to protect the badger family.

“I figure they should probably keep the equipment away while the babies are in the den,” said Magnus.

Heavy equipment was parked nearby in the Williams Lake neighbourhood, as more lots are being prepared for home construction down the street.

After the developer Westridge Ventures was contacted by Black Press Media, they responded and said they had not been aware there was a den.

Developer Luigi Mandarino said he would tell the equipment operators to keep out of the den site area and he was concerned work in the area over the last couple of days would have been cutting across the lot to access topsoil.

“We didn’t know there was anything there,” said Mandarino. “We’re not going to touch that for now, now that I know.”

“That’s an easy fix if we know where it is,” he added. Mandarino also expressed concern for people in the neighbourhood walking dogs near the den and said perhaps they could provide a way to keep people out of the area.

A response from the Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship said the American badger is provincially red-listed, meaning it may be endangered, threatened or at risk of disappearing in a specific area. Federally, the animal is listed as endangered. They are also legally protected from being harmed, captured, or killed under the province’s Wildlife Act. Violators can be prosecuted under this act.

Badgers sighting, burrows, or deaths can be reported on the provincial website: www.badgers.bc.ca.

Any enforcement of the Wildlife Act is the responsibility of the Conservation Officer Service and anyone concerned about impacts to wildlife can call 1-877-952-7277 or #7277 on a Telus mobility network.

The most vulnerable time period for badgers is May through July when they are raising their young and efforts should be made not to disturb them during this time.

Burrows can extend up to 20 m underground and people, vehicles and pets should be kept at least 20 m from any burrow. While badger-human conflicts are rare, the animals can be protective or defensive, especially near their burrows or when raising kits.

“As with all wildlife, never feed or approach a badger. If you encounter a badger, respect its space by backing away and leaving the area. Maintain your distance and keep pets away to avoid altercations or injuries,” stated the ministry.

Badgers can live around 14 years and are found more often in the Okanagan, Similkameen, Thompson River, Nicola Valley and East Kootenay areas, but some have been noted in the Cariboo and eastern Chilcotin. Their natural environment is deep-soiled grasslands, shrub-steppe and open stands of Ponderosa pine or Douglas fir.

Plan your adventures throughout the West Coast at westcoasttraveller.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @thewestcoasttraveller. And for the top West Coast Travel stories of the week delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our weekly Armchair Traveller newsletter!

Share this:

Category: TravelTag: British Columbia Destinations, Cariboo, Endangered Species, Wildlife, Williams Lake

Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

Life-sized sculptures bring ‘the wild’ to downtown Victoria

Things will get wild on the streets of Victoria this month with life-sized driftwood animal…

Life-sized sculptures bring ‘the wild’ to downtown VictoriaRead More

Travel on the Fly: Snowbirds, beautiful blooms + other spring delights

Spring’s arrival brings more than longer, sunnier days coaxing leaves from the trees. It’s the…

Travel on the Fly: Snowbirds, beautiful blooms + other spring delightsRead More

Where is California’s ‘hardest to book’ campground? Not in a famous park

California has one campground among the nation’s 10 most difficult to book, according to a…

Where is California’s ‘hardest to book’ campground? Not in a famous parkRead More

Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park to go cashless on entry fees and camping

By Jared Gendron, The News Tribune Beginning May 26, Mount Rainier National Park will only…

Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park to go cashless on entry fees and campingRead More

What to bring on a hike: WCT Travel Guide

Knowing what to bring on a hike can make all the difference between a wonderful…

What to bring on a hike: WCT Travel GuideRead More

You could spend a lifetime paddling here! Endless kayaking adventures await on southern Vancouver Island

Southern Vancouver Island is a world-class kayaking destination, with options along its endless, meandering coastline…

You could spend a lifetime paddling here! Endless kayaking adventures await on southern Vancouver IslandRead More

Travel on the Fly: A slushy good time spring skiing; Mountain-top beer festivities+ more!

From a Kootenay Beer Festival to a slushy end to a long, snowy spring ski…

Travel on the Fly: A slushy good time spring skiing; Mountain-top beer festivities+ more!Read More

Golden’s boy Boo boogies out of bed

The first day of spring isn’t officially until March 20, but for residents of Golden,…

Golden’s boy Boo boogies out of bedRead More

Take an Alberta roadtrip in the footsteps of ‘The Last of Us’

The HBO TV series The Last of Us has not only made many Albertans proud…

Take an Alberta roadtrip in the footsteps of ‘The Last of Us’Read More

Previous Post: « Canadians hold nose at gas prices as they hit the road, skies once again
Next Post: World invited back to Parksville beach as sandcastles poised to make a return »

Primary Sidebar

Things To Do

Life-sized sculptures bring ‘the wild’ to downtown Victoria

March 22, 2023

Travel on the Fly: Snowbirds, beautiful blooms + other spring delights

March 21, 2023

Where is California’s ‘hardest to book’ campground? Not in a famous park

March 21, 2023

Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park to go cashless on entry fees and camping

March 21, 2023

Recent Posts

Life-sized sculptures bring ‘the wild’ to downtown Victoria

March 22, 2023

Travel on the Fly: Snowbirds, beautiful blooms + other spring delights

March 21, 2023

Where is California’s ‘hardest to book’ campground? Not in a famous park

March 21, 2023

Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park to go cashless on entry fees and camping

March 21, 2023

Footer

The West Coast Traveller has an immense social media footprint, with eight social media sites and and 125,000+ social followers.

Join us on social media and Join Our Community by sharing your stuff!

Get Inspired

News Media Groups

Black Press Media
Sound Publishing
Oahu Media Group
Alaska
Boulevard Magazines
Used.ca

Let’s Get Social

West Coast Traveller
I Love British Columbia
I Love Alberta
I Love Yukon
I Love Northwest Territories
I Love Washington
I Love California
I Love Oregon
I Love Alaska

Visit Our Companion Sites

I Love Saskatchewan
I Love Manitoba
I Love Nunavut
I Love Ontario
I Love Quebec
I Love Newfoundland and Labrador
I Love Nova Scotia
I Love New Brunswick
I Love Prince Edward Island

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon

Copyright © 2023 West Coast Traveller and · All Rights Reserved