B is for.......... Badger.
As an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin, I am proud to call myself a Badger. I love all things Bucky, and I could go on and on about the great times I had at Madison. These kinds of Badgers are everywhere, and I see them all the time.
No, this post has to be about a different kind of badger.
The real McCoy if you will. The summer after my freshman year in college, I worked at the Brown County Reforestation Camp. The place was basically a zoo, and would later officially become one. There were lots of animals when I worked there: bears, buffalo, monkeys, even a lion. One of my jobs was to clean the animal enclosures.
The only animal to give me a hard time was the badger. That thing was nasty. I'd get him in the little box with his food and go in to clean up. That guy would hiss at me something awful. He would rake his claws on the screen of that little cage, man, he wanted a piece of me. I'm not gonna lie, that thing scared the living hell out of me. I couldn't get out of there fast enough. I lived in Wisconsin and all, but I'd never seen a badger before that summer. I had no idea they were so fierce. I've had the proper respect ever since.
Badgers are scary creatures! I loved how they're the super badass characters in the Brian Jacques "Redwall" series back when I was a kid -- they took no nonsense from anybody. And Badger in The Wind in the Willows is another one to be reckoned with. British authors clearly know what they're dealing with, maybe from similar encounters...?
ReplyDeleteHaha. this is fantastic. I almost went to school at Madison. Always thought it was a great little city.
ReplyDeleteWow, that picture is horrifying! I would not want to mess with one of those suckers!!
ReplyDeleteDude...you should look up "the honey badger" on YouTube. It has hilarious commentary, and proves that the honey badger is perhaps the fiercest animal in the world.
ReplyDeleteI've watched Wisconsin at some sport before, and knew they were the badgers, but I never knew a badger was so vicious looking!!
ReplyDeleteLike Michael, I immediately thought of the honey badger on youtube. That video totally cracks me up, and I had no idea badgers were so fierce.
ReplyDeleteI've always thought Bucky Badger was a cool mascot.
I'm a prairie schooner. Better to be a badger than a mode of transportation. And Mike Offutt, TCI is right...if you haven't seen "the honey badger", you're in for a treat.
ReplyDelete2 down- 24 to go!
Badgers are not friendly. We have them around here.
ReplyDeleteOK, so I just watched the honey badger clip. Brilliant. The badger I had to clean up after, while not a honey badger, certainly didn't care that I was terrified.
ReplyDeleteLOL! That thing looks scary as shiz! Glad you survived your time with the badger :D
ReplyDeletewell, now. i can understand why he's a mascot.... nice read.
ReplyDeleteI've never run into a badger. After seeing the honey badger video and reading about your experiences with a badger I'm glad I've never run into one.
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