Badger Sounds – What Do Badgers Sound Like? | Audio Examples

To understand the badger’s language, people try to record the badger sounds to analyze their tones and pitches. Some badger noises are very clear to everyone like growling which usually exhibits when they engage in a fight. However, all the noises are not this clear. Sometimes, they use a variety of sounds while conveying the same message.

Badgers are also capable of conveying their message with the help of special body language. Overall, we can say that badgers communicate with each other with the help of smell, sound, and body language. In this article, we are going to give you a brief description of various badger sounds and clear all your confusion about badger noises.

What does a badger sound like?

Badgers can make a variety of noises. Some of these famous noises are growling, snarling, barking, yelping, etc. Badgers use these special noises to communicate with each other in the wilderness. Badgers also use some of these sounds for mating purposes. It is extremely difficult to decipher the badger sound because they are nocturnal animals and only come out at night.

Badger’s sound could vary from long, low pitch to high, short pitch. There could also be bird-like coos. Normally, adult badgers make sounds like purrs, churrs, and keckers while cubs make sounds like squeaks, coos, chirps, wails, and clucks. All the remaining sounds might be exhibited by both adults and cubs for various purposes. While mating male badgers churr and female badgers yelp.

What sounds does a badger make?

Let’s discuss some sounds in detail that badgers make while doing various kinds of activities. You can identify from these sounds what kind of action the badger is going to take. Let’s have a look at some of these badger sounds.

Growling

These are the longest but low-pitched and rumbling sounds. These are actually warning sounds that are given out in the presence of food or any unfamiliar animal in your territory. It usually acts as a warning sound for attackers or predators. When they want to intimidate other nearby animals, they make a very lengthy growl. They don’t do it regularly but when they growl it is considered a warning for a predator.

Barking

This sound is the same as the bark of sound. The bark is usually heard when badgers play with each other or when they are surprised by anything. These sounds are also sometimes used as a warning sign against an attacker. You can also experience these sounds when badgers mate and are annoyed by other partners. You can hear multiple barking sounds in the wilderness when there is a number of badgers in the surrounding.

Snarling

These are moderate-pitched sounds and are heard when the attacker tries to snatch the territory of badgers. You can also hear these noises when the badgers engage in any kind of aggressive activity with each other.

Yelping

Yelps are given out when badgers are in extreme pain or when the badgers are in fear of getting pain. These usually come out in the form of series in the combination with chitters. Female badgers normally give out these noises, especially during mating.

Squeaking

These are short, shrill but very high-pitched sounds. Cub gives out these sounds when they are going to separate from their mothers or when they engage in some kind of play.

Churr

It is a special call for mating purposes. These sounds are deep, throaty, insistent, and very vibrant. These are usually given out by male badgers as a sign of mating calls. These are almost the same as a female purr.

Purr

These sounds are mating calls by female badgers. These are the same as male churr but are moderate and very much less intensive. These are also some specific calls by the female badgers for their cubs. Female badgers also give these sounds for grooming and training their cubs. These are also warning signs for the cubs to stay close and remain inside the setts.

Wailing

When the cubs become completely isolated from their mother, they wail in distress. The intensity of the wails gradually increases as long as are away from their mother.

Chitter

Chitter is a high-pitched but short and querulous sound. These are the sounds given out by the male adult badgers when they feel pain or are frustrated. Female badgers also exhibit these noises when they are harassed by male badgers. Female badgers also chitter while mating. Cubs are also known for making these sounds when they play with other cubs. Chitter is almost the same as wicker sound. This sound also matches the whining of the horse often during mild frustration.

Kecker

Kecker is a long but singular sound almost the same as chitter. These are given out if they feel any threat or attack or if they are going to submit in the fight. The intensity of the sound also increases as the fighting or threat becomes more intense.

Snorting

When the badgers are surprised by they something, they snort. They also give this sound when they startle. In this scenario, the badger could also jump back from its present position.

Clucking

It is a bird-like sound like the duck’s quack. These sounds are only associated with cubs. Cubs like to make this sound while playing, greeting, grooming, and communicating. They also like to sound like this when they have close contact with each other.

Coo

If you heard a very soft sound same as a dove, then it is called a coo sound. It is also associated with cubs only when they closely contact the other cubs.

Chirp

These are moderately pitched and bird-like sounds. You can only hear these sounds from cub only. The short sounds and heard in series.

Hiss

These are cat like very sharp sounds and are only heard in isolation. These sounds are the same as growl and snarl but in very moderate warning to predators. These are very intimidating sounds.

These are low-pitched, blunt but very short sounds. These are made while closely contacting the other cubs. These are utilized while grooming and training.

Also, read our article about the proper Identification of badgers.

 Why do badgers scream at night?

Being nocturnal, badgers only come out in the nighttime. That’s why you can also hear the growling, screaming, and noise at night time. As far as the screaming is concerned, they can scream for various reasons. However, the most obvious reason for the scream is the arousing sexual excitement. They scream to alert their female partners or they also use it as a call for mating. Source.

What does an angry badger sound like?

Angry badger makes a lot of sounds. These sounds are for expressing various kinds of frustration. For instance, when they feel threatened by predators they make very powerful angry sounds. They also make these sounds when the female badgers don’t allow the badger to come near them.

Frequently asked questions

Conclusion

Badgers make a lot of sounds or noises for various purposes. They make sounds when they fight, love, mate, communicate, or give warning signs against predators. Both adult and young badgers make different kinds of sounds. There are also some specific sounds for male as well as for female badgers. We have explained all the sounds in detail that the badgers make for various kinds of activities. I hope this article will help you a lot in actually understanding the sound of badger.