We just returned a couple of hours ago from an 8 day photo/camping trip in western Montana so this will be a short post since I’m all tuckered out and still have lots to do to catch up on the backlog that built up while I was gone – aggravated by the fact that my laptop Wi-Fi died during the trip. Frustration!
1/1250, f/9, ISO 500, 500 f/4
Yesterday evening we were photographing a family of Swainson’s Hawks while parked next to a small hill. The hill was right next to my truck and the top of it was just about eye level. Suddenly a badger poked its head up out of the grasses, sage and rabbitbrush on top of the hill to check us out. He/she seemed just as curious about us as we were about it.
1/800, f/13, ISO 500, 500 f/4
The extremely low angle made it impossible to get the whole critter in the image but I really liked the eye-level portraits I was able to get anyway. For this shot the badger raised itself slightly and I lifted my lens as high as possible from inside the truck to get as much of the lower body in the image as I could.
This was one of our most photographically successful trips to Montana and I hope to post quite a few images (raptors in particular) from our journey in the near future.
Ron
Oh, wonderful! I’ve done a lot of work in an area that has lots of them, but I’ve only seen them as roadkill. How delightful to see these amazingly adaptable creatures living and breathing. =) Thank you.
I like the obvious appreciation you have for badgers Biobabbler. On the Montana farm where I grew up badger holes are everywhere (much to the chagrin of farmers who don’t like those huge holes in their fields) but it’s pretty unusual to actually see one.
What a beautiful shot — I LOVE the eye-level capture! You really got him/her beautifully. Can’t help but think of Beatrix Potter + Wind and the Willows when I see such a lovely image…
Thanks Christina. I agree, “eye level” makes a big difference for most any wild subject – it just seems more intimate.
Hi Ron, aren’t your badgers different from the British ones! Yours look ‘cuter’ but I guess they are still very strong animals with mighty claws? Regards, Ingrid
Ingrid, European badgers (Meles meles) are in a different species, and genus, than are American badgers (Taxidea taxis).
How amazing. And how lucky you were that he popped up out of his sett at that time. I am really looking forward to photos from the rest of your trip.
Thank you Elephant’s Child.
A Badger! tough to photograph, tough to find, but you did and thank you for posting!
You’re right Tana – they’re both difficult to find and to photograph. Most of my (rare) photos of them are butt shots as they scurry away through a trail of dust.
What a beautiful animal a Badger is! I have never seen one in person and that is the best photo I have seen of one. I look forward to the upcoming photos and again appreciate the education gained with each of your posts. I get excited each time I receive an e-mail notification. Something I really look forward to and that I share with others.
Thank you very much Phyllis. Your comment made my day.
Reminds me of a similar picture I have of the one and only Badger that I have ever seen. Yours is much better than mine, but in mine the badger is staring at me with the same expression. He had backed partway into his den? and was looking at me through some weeds. Their expression doesn’t show their real agressive nature. Love your gorgeous photos, Ron.
Thanks Bob.
“Their expression doesn’t show their real agressive nature” – from some of the accounts I’ve read, that’s very true – though I must admit that in most of the encounters I’ve had with them they seem almost shy and retiring.
The badger is gorgeous! Do we know if it is male or female? A beautiful creature… My sister played the Badger in the Wind and the Willows play. One of my favorite books.
Nicole, I have no idea if it’s male or female. Males are the larger sex but I only saw the one.