I'm not sure about forum policy on taxidermy, but for the purpose of my question it's sort of neccessary.

Here's one I can't get my brain round. My friend has an unusual stuffed badger - its head and legs are normal, but its body is creamy-white. The guard hairs are very short or non-existant. He reckons because the guard hairs were white (no pigment) they wear quicker going in and out of the sett and that's why it has that 'shaved' appearance. I understand the principle that the plumage of albino birds tends to wear quicker etc.

The other badger I found dead on the road this March past. Not quite as striking as the stuffed one, but still noticeable enough to make me stop the car and lift it. Again the head, shoulders and front legs are normal, but from there back the body is a creamy white. Again, the guard hairs are very short or absent. Notice the blonde tail. Now, if you know your badgers at all, the back and tail should be covered with long wirey black/grey guard hairs. Not so on this one.

At first appearance these animals appear to be colour mutations, but I'm not convinced. Could it simply be a problem with the quard hairs - take a normal badger and shave off the guard hairs, and what are you left with? Maybe a blonde backed badger? Notice the short matt black hairs on the roadkills back legs compared with the front.

thanks,
Zek.

It's a very interesting question, and one that I unfortunately don't know the answer too. The idea that the hairs on the stuffed badger wore quicker than usual because they were already white is plausable, but I don't know how to explain the roadkill badgers. They do look like they are missing guard hairs.

Hopefully someone else has a better idea than me.

I've read that badgers can be albino, melanistic (black), and even ginger coloured!  Apparently it depends on the amount of melanin (the pigment) in the hair.  I can't explain the apparent missing guard hairs though.

Welcome to Wildlife UK, Zek!

Kingfisher

This post was last modified: 05-06-2007 02:14 PM by Kingfisher.

Thanks for both of you taking the time to reply. I did take a quick look through one of E. Neals books on Badgers and could find nothing on the subject. I've posted a similar message on other forums, but with no success. As I've said before, I think this is a 'guard hair' issue, and I'm not convinced colour in involved at all - tho' I'm not totally sure. Thanks in the meantime,

Zek.

If you do find the answer let us know! Sorry I couldn't be of more help, but I'll definitely be asking around ot try and find the answer.