A short-legged, short-bodied, nocturnal, omnivorous mammal of the weasel family (Mustelidae) that lives in a system of burrows called a sett. Badgers occur throughout most of North America, Africa, and Eurasia. There are 11 species. The European badger (Meles meles) which features in many folk stories has a distinctively striped head; it forages above ground for earthworms and other invertebrates, but also some vertebrates including hedgehogs. The American badger (Taxidea taxus) also has prominent face markings; it finds much of its food below ground.