Tough as nails and extremely smart, honey badgers adapt well to any environment. In this video, a honey badger easily defeats a device meant to keep it out.
Kayla du Toit submitted this footage to Latest Sightings. She filmed it while staying at Tamboti Tented Camp in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
Baboon-proof bin
As Kayla’s vide begins, someone excitedly points at something out of view. To our surprise, the camera turns to show a dustbin.
However, this is no ordinary bin. The sliding lid design is supposed to prevent animals, like baboons from getting into the rubbish.
Rubbish raider
As we watch, it becomes apparent that something is inside the bin. Moments later, when the lid surprisingly pops up, the culprit reveals itself.
A honey badger emerges, holding a plastic bag used to marinate meat in its jaws. Squat and powerful, the badger has no problem escaping from the supposedly animal-proof bin.
Honey badger don’t care
As it drops to the ground, it becomes aware of Kayla’s presence. Briefly, it drops its prize and stares at her for a moment, as if daring her to do something about the brazen theft she has just witnessed.
Sensibly, Kayla stays still. Honey badgers rank among the most fearless creatures on the planet, so it’s best not to mess with them.
Also worth pointing out is that the badger in question is one of a pair that live at Tamboti. As such, they are habituated to human presence.
What have we here?
Subsequently, the badger trots off a short distance before stopping to rip open the bag. Finding no solid food inside, it licks the marinate.
Seconds later, it picked up the bag and disappeared into the bushes behind Kayla’s tent.
Another visit, or another badger?
Later, Kayla heard another disturbance and switched on her camera in time to see a honey badger arrive.
Whether this is the same one from earlier, or its mate, is unknown.
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Deterrent defeated
However, this time around, she would get to see how the badger managed to get into the bin in the first place. Rising on its hind legs, the badger used its snout to nudge the lid upwards.
It then used its powerful forelimbs to pull itself through the opening. In a matter of seconds, it had easily defeated the bins’ deterrent mechanism.
Then, as it scuffled around inside looking for a morsel, the lid dropped closed entirely.
Typically, when animals are suddenly confined, they panic. However, this was clearly nothing new for the badger.
Instead, when it was good and ready, it again used its head to push the lid upwards before exiting the bin in one swift movement.
This time, although it has something in its mouth, we cannot see what it is. Before leaving, the badger seemed to look at the bin as if disappointed that it didn’t have more to offer.
As the video ends, the badger continues on its way, no doubt to the next bin in hopes of finding something to snack on.
Badgers and bins
If you visit a camp where honey badgers roam, it is important to keep both food and waste out of sight and locked away in a cupboard or metal cage.
Rather than putting waste in the outside bin at night, store it securely and dispose of it the next day when the badgers are not active.