Britain’s largest predator is a powerful and rarely seen animal that plays a crucial role in the country’s ecosystems. Despite its size and strength, it remains elusive to most people, quietly shaping the wildlife around it.
What is Britains biggest predator?
Britain's biggest land predator is the black-and-white striped European badger (Meles meles). Males can grow up to a huge 100cm and weigh up to 12kg, while females are more commonly between 60–90 cm long.
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Badgers are omnivores, meaning that they have a wide ranging diet that includes insects and other creatures as well as vegetation and fruit. Earthworms, which they dig up in grassland at night when the worms are usually closer to the surface, tend to make up the majority of a badgers diet and a single animal can eat 200 worms or more in a night.
A badger will eat birds eggs and chicks if it finds a nest and its powerful front paws can tackle a hedgehog with ease. It will also eat mice and rabbits if given the chance.
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