Wombat Diet

This badger is a mature student, chronologically anyway, now living in London. After many years working for not for profit organizations, most recently in the Philippines, I’m doing a late mid-career MBA.

Left: A Eurasian badger (Meles meles), not a wombat. Never seen a badger? Badger photos; badgercam (9PM to 11:30PM UK time, appx).

I thought about blogging before but never managed to find the time to master WordPress in the way I wanted.

Perhaps something like Vox.com is where I should be, but at this point, having finally committed to WordPress, I am more concerned to get some hands-on experience.

The first post explains where the title came from.

The only purpose of this blog is to record some of my own amusements and diversions and share them with selected friends without badgering them by email. Topics covered: anything and everything; check the list of topics on the right.

To badger: to tease mercilessly; to harass persistently.

Most reports of the origin of the expression suggest that it originated in the cruel practice of badger baiting which had a long tradition and which is now outlawed.

Few people have seen a live badger. Fewer still have watched badger cubs playing in the evening or by moonlight, surely one of the most delightful experiences nature offers. Badger cubs play games like children. When sliding down a slope, there’s always a slow one who is pushed by his brothers and sisters. They roll, chase, race, jump on each other, play tag, play “I’m the king of the castle” on any suitable hillock, and generally behave, often noisily, in a way that could easily make you laugh.

They are not always very respectful of their parents. I have seen some badger cubs try out the game of nipping Dad and running. The provocation and sense of danger are irresistably funny. The first time I saw a cub apparently being killed by an angry boar I was tempted to give away my presence and save his life. He was squealing for his life, begging for mercy. When he got it he promptly tweaked his Dad’s tail and fled. I saw this game played many times.

I’d like to think that the origin of the expression to badger someone goes back to the days when people and badgers were better acquainted and the manners of badger cubs were part of everyday folklore.

Some badger links: cubs; videos: 1 and 2; keeping badgers out of your garden; a brock party