Chapter 4 Summary

The female badger does not return to her den immediately after the encounter with the boy. She had blundered on the child from upwind, unable to smell him. Normally badgers avoid humans, but she instinctively realized this small boy wishes her no harm.

The badger cubs are 33 days old, still blind and helpless in the den. Too young for live food, they live on their mother's milk. Now, however, the badger is hungry and goes to the large prairie dog colony for prey. Heading back to the den with a large male prairie dog in her jaws, the badger sniffs an intriguing scent. She is tempted to explore it, but finally moves on, reluctant to put down her prey.

That night the badger's mate wanders through the same area, hungry. He follows the enticing odor for a quarter of a mile to its...