Badger invades Coyote territory

For The Madera Tribune

Madera High School physical education teachers were surprised to find another student in the Olive Avenue gym Tuesday morning when a young badger was found in the boiler room.

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Madera Animal Control Officers responded to a very unusual call for service at Madera High School after a badger was discovered hiding inside a storage closet on campus.

While animal control officers handle a wide variety of calls, wildlife incidents like this are extremely rare. Situations involving wildlife are governed by specific state regulations regarding the capture and relocation of animals, which is why they rely on trained wildlife professionals for assistance.

A special thank you to Dan Fidler, a biologist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Fresno Unit), who responded to assist despite being hours away when he received the call. With his expertise, the badger was safely captured and removed from the location.