Rare beach predator caught raiding sea turtle nest in Texas

Spotting a badger on a Texas beach is unusual enough. Catching one raiding a sea turtle nest is even rarer.

At about 4:35 p.m. on July 16, Jacob Burks with Jacob Burks Surf Academy encountered a badger between mile markers 14 and 17 on the north end of South Padre Island while leading a tour.

"The badger stayed there at least for the rest of the day but was no longer there when I passed back by on Saturday with a different tour," Burks told Chron. "This is the first time I've ever seen one on South Padre Island, but I know they're known to live here, and eating turtle eggs is like a sweet treat to them."

Badgers are short-legged, shaggy members of the weasel family known for the distinctive white stripe running from their noses over their shoulders. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, they're found anywhere sandy soils make it easy to dig for prey, including beaches.

They use their long claws to burrow after small mammals, snakes, other reptiles, birds and insects, but because they're solitary animals, they're rarely seen.

Burks said Sea Turtle, Inc. told him the same badger has been targeting sea turtle nests in the area for several weeks and has eaten eggs from at least six nests.

"This nest in particular was from a green sea turtle, judging by the size of the nest and the size of the eggshells," Burks said.

Sea Turtle, Inc. has documented similar encounters this nesting season. In June, the organization shared footage of what it said was the first badger ever observed preying on sea turtle nests on South Padre Island.

"For the first time ever, a badger has been observed preying on sea turtle nests on our island," the organization wrote. "This outlaw already claimed two nests, and we're calling on the community to help keep him in check."

Later that month, Sea Turtle, Inc. said another badger was spotted digging into a nest, but staff rescued the remaining eggs. Twenty-nine hatchlings were later released into the Gulf.

Burks' video of the latest encounter quickly drew attention on social media, with many viewers expressing surprise that badgers live on the island.

"I didn't know there are badgers there," one person commented.

"There's badgers on South Padre Island?" another wrote.

Others defended the predator.

"Friendly reminder that badgers can't go buy groceries," one commenter joked.

Sea Turtle, Inc. encourages anyone who sees a badger disturbing a sea turtle nest to safely scare the animal away from the area and call or text the organization's emergency line at 956-243-4361.

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