The American badger (Taxidea taxus) is a mustelid that inhabits grasslands and dry regions from southern Canada through the United States to northern Mexico. It has a flattened body, powerful forelegs, and long curved claws adapted for rapid digging. Primarily solitary and nocturnal, it pursues burrowing small animals such as ground squirrels and prairie dogs by digging into their burrows. Its home range contains multiple burrows used for resting and raising young. In some areas it hunts alongside coyotes, and observers have noted mutually beneficial interactions in which coyotes capture prey that bolt from burrows. The IUCN Red List classifies it as Least Concern (LC), but grassland development, road mortality, and control measures cause localized declines.