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Miocene Epoch (~23–5 million years ago): Earliest ancestors of modern badgers emerge in Eurasia (Justice, 2015, p. 33).

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Exeter Book (circa 10th century): Early textual depiction of badgers as resilient, family-oriented animals engaging in fierce battles against dogs (Justice, 2015, p. 110).

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Badgers depicted symbolically in various cultures, associated with wisdom, stubbornness, and pragmatism. Medicinally, distilled badger blood was used as a remedy (Justice, 2015, p. 147).

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The badger as depicted in a 13th century manuscript (Justice, 2015, p. 21).

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'Of the BADGER, otherwise called a Brocke, a Gray, or a Bauson', woodcut from Edward Topsell's The History of Four-footed Beasts and Serpents (1658 edn.)

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(Justice, 2015, p. 42).

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Robert Jacob Gordon, Caapse Ratel (Cape Ratel), c. 1772-80, pen, ink, and pencil.

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18th-20th centuries: Scientific reclassification shifts badgers from bear relatives to the family Mustelidae (weasels), clarifying their place in taxonomy (Justice, 2015, p. 23).

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Early 1800s: Popularization of badger-baiting, a brutal sport in Britain; badgers are violently attacked by dogs for entertainment and profit (Justice, 2015, p. 145).

1820: Poem by W. Belch highlights cruelty in badger-baiting.

Baited by Dogs, the Badger dies.

A cruel sport it thus supplies.

The Skin is by the Furriers bought,

And thus for gain & pleasure sought.

W. Belch, c. 1820

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1882: Artistic representation by Guido von Maffei reflects European hunting traditions (Justice, 2015, p. 144).

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1908: Kenneth Grahame publishes The Wind in the Willows, introducing Mr. Badger as a wise, steady elder, shaping popular cultural perceptions of the animal (Justice, 2015, p. 104).

1922: Nancy Barnhart’s illustrated edition further cements the iconic portrayal of Mr. Badger as an intellectual, fatherly figure (Justice, 2015, p. 107).

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1960s-80s: Cultural reinterpretation occurs; Jan Needle’s novel Wild Wood (1981) portrays Badger as a conservative, reactionary figure, reflecting class-conscious critiques of Edwardian society (Justice, 2015, p. 107).

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Late 20th Century to 21st Century – Cultural and Symbolic Roles

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Late 20th Century to 21st Century – Cultural and Symbolic Roles

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1970s-2000s: Badger becomes a conservation symbol in the US, particularly in Wisconsin, despite few citizens ever encountering them directly (Justice, 2015, p. 78).

1980s-2000s: Increased activism against badger persecution, including campaigns against baiting and for legal protection in the UK and elsewhere (Justice, 2015, p. 182).

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21st Century – Badgers in Politics and Pop Culture      

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21st Century – Badgers in Politics and Pop Culture      

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(Justice, 2015, p. 49).

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2011: Internet sensation “The Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger” video by Randall popularizes the honey badger as a symbol of toughness and irreverence (Justice, 2015, p. 100).

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Significant public protests occur in England against government-sanctioned badger culling aimed at controlling bovine tuberculosis (Justice, 2015, p. 161).

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The early months of Donald Trump’s presidency saw an unusual focus on badgers during policy briefings, interrupting discussions on healthcare, foreign policy, and legislative agendas. Trump’s questions include queries on their behavior, personality, and interactions with people (Darby, 2020).

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John Carson believes badgers play a role in the transmission of bovine tuberculosis.

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Continued Debate: Badger culling in the UK remains a politically contentious issue, pitting farmers against animal rights activists (Cullen, 2023).

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Chibi cute kawaii onion cartoon character. (Freepik, 2025)

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Scholars like Daniel Heath Justice encourage reconsideration of badgers beyond symbolic or anthropomorphic representations, promoting their ecological significance (Justice, 2015, p. 146).