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Native Californian, biologist, wildlife conservation consultant, retired Smithsonian scientist, father of two daughters, grandfather of four. INTJ. Believes nature is infinitely more interesting than shopping malls. Born 100 years too late.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Striped Face, the cunning Badger


"The badger was in his hole. Stooping over, the young man shouted: "Oh, cunning striped face!  Oh, generous animal!  I wish to speak with you."
"What do you want?" said the badger, poking his head out of the hole.
"I want to find the sun's home," replied Scarface. "I want to speak with him."
"I do not know where he lives," replied the badger. "I never travel very far. Over there in the timber is the wolverine. He is always traveling around, and is of much knowledge. Maybe he can tell you."
Striped Face had a cameo role In Blackfoot Indian legend.

On the Chiminea Ranch he also plays bit parts.

He comes and goes, and rarely hangs around for long.

This badger didn't shrink from climbing a steep hill where a fermenting can of cat food beckoned.

The bait was stuffed into a cleft in the outcrop

Striped face visited the set on five occasions and left 13 images.




On his first visit he circled the rock.




It took one circuit and he discovered that the scent came from above.




Apparently he couldn't reach it.

Those stubby legs weren't equal to the task; so he went away.




A couple nights later Striped face came back.

In Blackfoot legend only the wolverine knew that the trail to the Big Water led to the sun.

This badger also seemed to know the sun's home.

Indeed, he seems to have paused a moment to watch it fading beyond the Big Water.




Reference

George Bird Grinnell, 1962. Blackfoot Lodge Tales, The Story of a Prairie People. University of Nebraska Press. [The excerpt comes from the story "Scarface, Origin of the Medicine Lodge"].

8 comments:

Seagull Steve said...

For a second, I thought the title for this post was "Stupid Face, the cunning Badger". That would've been an interesting contradiction. Great series of shots!

brdpics said...

I love badgers & love this posts- nice blend of cool images, folklore, & practical ideas for an effective set!

biobabbler said...

aw. super cute re: short little legs. Such great, clear shots!

Camera Trap Codger said...

Actually Steve, I started to call it "Pig-nose, the cunning . . .", but that changed when I opened Grinnell's book. Glad you all liked it. I'm a big fan of badgers too.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful! I love badgers, and when I train in aikido I tease my partners that I'm a badger: short, round, low to the ground, generally inoffensive but not to be trifled with :-) Sadly, I've never seen a live one in the wild.

Anonymous said...

I love the fur on Striped Face! Beautiful. Beautiful.

I wish they had them up here in Ontario....

Marilyn

Anonymous said...

Charming creature, delightful post, stunning captures!

JoEllen

JK said...

That last image is just fantastic. So picturesque and almost anthropomorphic.