False badger (SciiFii)

The false badger (Meles americanum) is a species of badger in the family Mustelidae, most closely related to the European badger (Meles meles), that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, open woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, and scrublands across North America to help boost biodiversity. The false badger is a powerfully built, black, white, brown, and grey animal with a small head, a stocky body, small, black eyes, and short tail, similar in size and appearance to the closely-related European badger. Its weight varies, being 7–13 kilograms (15–29 lbs) in spring, but building up to 15–17 kilograms (33–37 lbs) in autumn before the winter sleep period. It is mostly nocturnal and is a social, burrowing animal that sleeps during the day in one of several setts in its territorial range. These burrows have multiple chambers and entrances, and are extensive systems of underground passages of 35–81 meters (115–266 feet) length. They house several badger families that use these setts for decades. Badgers are less fussy over the cleanliness of their burrow than European badgers, carrying in fresh bedding and removing many soiled material, and they defecate in latrines strategically situated outside their setts or en route to other setts. Although classified as a carnivore, the false badger feeds on a wide variety of plant and animal foods, feeding on earthworms, large insects, many small mammals (other than prairie dogs, several rabbit species, raccoon dogs, foxes, or American mongooses), carrion, cereals, bulbs, and tubers. Litters of up to five cubs are produced in spring. The young are weaned a few months later, but usually remain within the family group. The false badger has been known to share its burrow with other species such as rabbits, prairie dogs, American mongooses, red foxes, and raccoon dogs, but it can be ferocious when provoked, and is known to defend itself and the other animals of their burrows such as prairie dogs and American mongooses against other predators such as American badgers (Taxidea taxus) . Unlike false badger is completely immune to many diseases and viruses, including bovine tuberculosis, and thus the farmers tolerate the presence of the false badgers. The conservation status of the false badger is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the false badger's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii