Honey Badger: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Weasels and Badgers · day 2 of 7

Five facts

1. A honey badger's skin is so loose that the animal can twist around inside it. Around the neck, the skin is 6 mm thick.
2. Honey badgers eat a bit of everything: insects, frogs, tortoises, lizards, rodents, birds and eggs. Some even kill and eat black mambas.
3. Honey badgers often raid beehives for bee larvae and honey, holding their food down with their forepaws.
4. Honey badgers can give birth any time of year after a short 50-70-day pregnancy, usually to one or two blind, hairless cubs.
5. Females care for their cubs for 1-1¼ years, teaching them hunting and climbing skills.

The quiz

1. What lets a honey badger turn and twist inside its skin?

• Its skin is very thin
• It has no bones in its neck
• Its skin is remarkably loose (correct)
• Its fur is very long

Its very loose skin gives it room to twist and turn inside it.

2. Which dangerous snake have honey badgers been seen killing and eating?

• The black mamba (correct)
• The anaconda
• The rattlesnake
• The taipan

In Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, honey badgers were seen killing and eating black mambas.

3. What do honey badgers hold their food down with?

• Their teeth only
• Their tails
• Their hind feet
• Their forepaws (correct)

They hold their food down with their forepaws.

4. How long is a honey badger's pregnancy?

• 10-15 days
• 50-70 days (correct)
• 20-30 days
• Nine months

Honey badgers have a short 50-70-day pregnancy.

5. What do female honey badgers teach their cubs?

• How to swim
• How to dig for water
• Hunting and climbing skills (correct)
• How to build nests

Females teach their cubs hunting and climbing skills for 1-1¼ years.

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