Difference Between Badger vs. Raccoon


Both terrestrial mammals with similar markings, raccoons and badgers have certain differences with which we can easily distinguish them. These differences can be seen in their physical appearance, but also in factors such as habitat and behavior. For example, raccoons have black markings around their eyes, while the American badger has white stripes running down their face. At thedailyECO, we learn more by looking at the difference between badger vs. raccoon.
What is a raccoon?
Commonly known as simply the raccoon, the common raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a carnivore in the family Procyonidae. This family also contains other mammals such as ringtails, coatis and kinkajous. Raccoons are native to North America and are well known to humans due to the increasing proximity of our habitats. In fact, they are a common news story with raccoon and human interactions becoming increasingly documented.
The common raccoon measures up to 28" (70 cm) in length in average and weighs up to 57 lb (26 kg). They have grayish fur on their bodies, but are noted for their white and black markings on their face and tail. They have a robust physical structure with short legs and rounded ears. These features help them to blend in easily with their surroundings, commonly found in wooded areas, but increasingly seem in more diverse habitats.
The keen night vision and excellent sense of hearing of the raccoon makes them very effective hunters and scavengers. Their incredibly dexterous paws are similar to the hands of humans. They allow them to open various containers in search of food, including entering human dwellings. The diet of a raccoon is incredibly varied, including everything from fruits and nuts to human refuse.
In their social life, raccoons are primarily solitary, although they do group together during the breeding season. Females give birth to between one and four pups, which are dependent on her for their first year. Their ability to adapt to different environments has led to a stable population in many regions of North America, despite the challenges they face in the wild.
The word raccoon originates from the Algonquian ‘arakun’, meaning ‘one who scratches with the hands’. This is a reflection of their remarkable manual dexterity.

What is a badger?
There are different animals referred to as badgers, but not all live in North America where they might be confused with the raccoon. For this reason, we are specifically talking about the American badger (Taxidea taxus). A type of mustelid, it is the only member of the subfamily Taxidiinae. Despite this, not all American badgers look the same, thanks to various subspecies which tend to be localized to difference areas.
Unlike the raccoon, the American badger is remarkably well adapted to subterranean life. Spending much of their time underground, they dig burrows to build their home, known as a ‘set’. When they forage for food, they bring it back home where they can be better protected from predators.
Their body is somewhat flattened and sleek, better helping them to live in often cramped underground spaces. They are also very robust and will defend themselves violently if threatened. Despite this, they are often known to be tolerant of other animals when they do not have need for competition and can even share their burrows with other animals such as the red fox (Vulpes vulpes).
In terms of identification, the badger is a medium-sized mammal, measuring up to 29.5" (75 cm) in length and weighing as much as 16 lb (7.2 kg) on average. Its fur is a distinctive yellowish-grey with a noticeable white stripe running down its face and head. American badgers are primarily nocturnal. During the winter, they tend to remain in their burrows, possibly in a state of torpor.
Their diet includes small mammals such as mice and gophers as well as snails, insects and even bird eggs. This makes them versatile predators and scavengers in their habitat. Badgers are distributed across different regions, preferring open grasslands and farmland where they dig complex burrow systems.
You can learn about similarities between two other types of predatory mammals with our article explaining the differences between coyotes vs. wolves.

Differences between badger vs. racoon
Despite being of similar size and appearance, badgers and raccoons are different animals. We can see these most notable differences in their appearance, habitat and behaviors. They include:
- Appearance: raccoons are easily recognizable by their distinctive black mask on their face, while badgers have a white stripe that runs from their nose to the back of their body. This difference in fur pattern is one of the features that distinguishes them at a glance.
- Habitats: American badgers are expert diggers who build complex underground burrows, creating nests connected by tunnels. In contrast, raccoons tend to use empty spaces left by badgers or seek shelter in trees and attics.
- Paws: raccoons have very dexterous hands which allow them to grip in a similar way to humans, although they do not have opposable thumbs. Badgers are not as dexterous, but have very sharp and strong claws which allow them to both dig burrows and defend themselves fiercely.
- Behaviors: Badgers can cause structural problems by digging under driveways and sidewalks. Raccoons are more destructive in the way they search for food, knocking over trash cans and damaging property as they try to gain access to homes.

Similarities between badger vs. raccoon
We have explained the differences between a badger vs. raccoon, but there is a reason they are often confused with each other. This is thanks to the following similarities:
- One of the most obvious aspects is their size, as both animals are of similar dimensions. Such a size allows them to adapt to comparable environments. Along with their general appearance, their similar size contributes to them often being confused, despite their differences in fur coloration.
- Both are omnivores, meaning their diet includes a wide variety of foods. Both badgers and raccoons consume insects, small mammals and occasionally fruits and vegetables. This dietary adaptability allows them to thrive in diverse regions and take advantage of the resources available in their environment. Additionally, they are known for their intelligence and cunning, helping them both to find food and avoid predators.
- Another aspect they share is their nocturnal activity. Both the badger and the raccoon are animals that prefer to go out at night to look for food, providing them some protection against daytime predators. Their endurance and ability to survive in diverse conditions are also common characteristics that allow them to inhabit the same region.
Now that you know the difference between a raccoon and a badger, you may be interested in discovering the difference between true owls and barn owls.
If you want to read similar articles to Difference Between Badger vs. Raccoon, we recommend you visit our Facts about animals category.
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. (n.d.). Common Raccoon (Procyon lotor). https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/raccoon/
- Department of Natural Resources. (n.d.). Badger. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mammals/badger.html