Honey Badger

30 Replies

Mellivora capensis

Infamous for its tenacity and downright cantankerous disposition, the Honey Badger may only stand 30cm high at the shoulder with a weight up to 16kg (males are much bigger than females), but that doesn’t deter them from tangling with buffaloes, elephants and lions (or anything else for that matter) daft enough to cross swords with them.

Honey Badgers inhabit a wide range of habitats, from deserts to mountains to forests, though they prefer more open habitats. They even occur in some of our cities and towns. They are equally catholic about their diet, feeding mostly on insects, eggs and rodents as well as fruits, berries, bulbs and carrion, but also including anything else they can overpower – snakes, young crocodiles, fish, amphibians, birds and mammals up to the size of small antelope have all been recorded. Although it isn’t a major part of their diet, their penchant for honey and the lengths they will go to in order to gorge themselves on it has earned them their English common name.

These tough creatures are usually seen alone or in pairs, and may be active by day or night. They are excellent climbers and rest up in crevices or holes in the ground (dug by themselves or taken over from other animals). This is also where the females give birth to litters of 1-4 pups (usually 2) at any time of year. The female raises the pups alone, moving them to a new den every few days until they can start moving around with her at around 3 months old. The pups are fully grown by the time they’re 8 months old but may remain with their mom until they’re as old as 18 months.

The IUCN considers the Honey Badger to be of least concern. It is distributed widely over Africa, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent, but usually occurs at low densities. Honey Badgers are found all over South Africa.

Foraging honey badgers just north of Satara
Foraging honey badgers just north of Satara
Foraging honey badger seen between Satara and Tshowane
Bold honey badger at Nwanetsi Picnic Site
Bold honey badger at Nwanetsi Picnic Site
Honey badger on the hunt
Honey Badger
Honey Badger
Honey Badger next to the fence at Shingwedzi
Honey Badger
Honey Badger
Honey Badger
Honey Badger peeping at us
Honey Badger trying to slink away (photo by Joubert)
Honey Badger
Honey Badger in Satara
Honey Badger

This Honey Badger, caught on our little camera trap, raided our trashcan during a visit to Tamboti in the Kruger National park during June 2023

Honey Badger raiding our trash can at Tamboti
Honey Badger raiding our trash can at Tamboti
Honey Badger raiding our trash can at Tamboti

30 thoughts on “Honey Badger”

    1. DeWetsWild's avatarde Wets Wild Post author

      Dit is interessant, Petru, want vir my voel dit of ons deesdae meer ratels sien as byvoorbeeld 10 jaar terug. Daar’s natuurlik n groot verskil tussen wat binne en wat buite natuurgebiede met hul bevolkings gebeur.

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      2. DeWetsWild's avatarde Wets Wild Post author

        Glad nie Petru, die link wat jy bygedra het was baie interessant!
        Ek dink die verskil kom beslis by wat binne en wat buite bewaringsgebiede gebeur, veral in gebiede waar byeboerdery en pluimvee n bron van inkomste is.

  6. John's avatarJohn

    Wow! Amazing pictures!😊 How did it react when it saw you? They are very aggressive and respectable animals, and I don’t think that even lions dare to try to attack them.

    Reply ↓
    1. DeWetsWild's avatarde Wets Wild Post author

      Indeed from the same family as your wolverines, Montucky – the Mustelidae (also cousins of the otters and weasels) and if the appearance doesn’t give it away the attitudes surely does!

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