A carnivorous mammal in the family Mustelidae along with weasels and otters. Badgers originated in Asia and are currently found from Ireland to Japan and the Philippine Islands as well as in North America. They occupy a wide range of habitats including open plains, semidesert, and the boreal forests of Scandinavia and Russia. In parts of Russia, they occur as far north as the Arctic Circle. Worldwide there are ten species of badgers classified in six genera (see table).