Talk:Honey badger/Archive 1

Intelligence
Maybe expand the wiki article with a section on intelligence? (either that or expand the behavior section). Today I saw a cool clip from Johannesburg Zoo in South Africa, about a real clever honey badger who used various tools (rakes, tyres, stone blocks, wooden branches, and more) to escape his compound. He even used the help of his female partner to open up a metal door that had two locks on it. The show was on BBC Two and the name of it is Honey Badgers: Masters of Mayhem. So that's one source there. You can see the clip of the badger in action on youtube as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c36UNSoJenI

Osvaldo Alonso
Osvaldo Alonso of the Seattle Sounders FC is also nicknamed "Honey Badger" by fans of the club due to his tenacious style of play. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 206.211.158.123 (talk) 23:22, 7 March 2012 (UTC) <!-jsjdhcusjcjfflfed IP -->

Puff adders
I know that the National Geographic documentary featured the events described here (the ratel surviving the venom and eating the puff adder), but is it right to imply that this is something that is part of a general pattern of behaviour? I vote it should be removed or reworded unless someone can provide evidence it happens regularly.

--Stephenh 12:56, 18 September 2006 (UTC)

(even from the fierce African bees)
This parenthetical implies resistence to a particularly venomous variety of bee sting. However, since it does not refer to a particular species, it's not clear how this should be interpreted. A reader might conclude this is meant to refer to Africanized honey bees, due to the similarity in name. Africanized honey bees do not have a particularly venomous sting (something which is implied by their common name of "killer bees" and other sensationalist reporting), though, so the Ratel's ability to withstand hundreds of their stings is no different from their ability to withstand hundreds of stings from any other variety of honey bee.

If a particular species is being referred to here, it would be best to name it. If not, it seems like it would be beneficial to drop the parenthetical entirely.

216.15.126.201 18:53, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

I hope you like it.

This wikiproject is for the superfamily of Musteloidea which currently and surprisingly does not have an article yet. This superfamily includes ferrets and weasels and all of our other furry little weasel like friends. Please put your name on it so this article could have it's very own wikiproject outside of wikiproject animals.

Teh Ferret 19:56, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

Predation
I realize that the honey badger is a tenacious animal that has been known to drive off lions, leopards, and hyenas on occasion, but the implication that healthy adults have "virtually no predators" is simply not true. In other words, they are not actually apex predators under conventional definitions of the term. Researchers in Africa report that predation of adults is in fact frequent: http://www.honeybadger.com/FactFile/predators.htm. Another link to the same site, showing the credentials of the researchers: http://www.honeybadger.com/ResearchProjects/Researchers.htm#About%20Keith%20Begg

I understand that there may be conflicting sources on the Web, but I would contend that fully credentialled scientists should carry the most weight here. Ronnymexico 15:46, 1 May 2007 (UTC)


 * Aside: the Beggs appear to be the pre-eminent researchers on the honey badgers in the world today. Not only do they have a good list of publications on the honey badger, their works are frequently referenced by scholars studying the honey badger. ScissorsMacGillicutty (talk) 12:13, 26 April 2011 (UTC)

Also, I have heard that their first move of attack when confronted with a larger creature is to latch on to their predator's gentials. Of course, [citation needed]you are correct. It is the only animal known to kill for sport, and is also the only animal known to go for the genitals.


 * This account of the honey badger's fighting strategy is based on an anecdote dating from the 1940s. No current research or observation supports this.  See http://www.honeybadger.com/FactFile/F.A.Q.htm ScissorsMacGillicutty (talk) 12:13, 26 April 2011 (UTC)


 * Link rot: the Beggs have reorganized their site and their dismissal of the claims of emasculation may now be found at http://www.honeybadger.com/faq.html. Also: there are a number of youtube videos that show the honey badger being preyed upon or simply attacked (one by a leopard, another by lions) and the badger doesn't even try to go for the attacker's genitals. Are these videos worth including in the article? ScissorsMacGillicutty (talk) 04:09, 9 April 2013 (UTC)

Attack of the Ratels
Maybe this would be a fine addition to the article. 69.236.107.118 17:20, 11 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Could we please restrain the urge to dump that garbage into the article. It's already yesterday's news. Rogerborg 15:12, 12 July 2007 (UTC)

I took it out. 38.100.34.2 18:05, 12 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Hmmm... I put this in again without seeing this. My version was a lot more succinct, and I made sure it was at the end of the article. It's certainly not core information for the article (and shouldn't even need a mention in the lead), but it is interesting trivia, and is probably worth a small mention. So, my suggestion is to keep it in, in the inconspicuous spot at the end of the article, and leave it at that. (It's just a suggestion, though.) -Kieran 01:59, 13 July 2007 (UTC)


 * I'm happy with Kieran's phrasing and placing it in a separate section at the end. It shouldn't be included in the opening paragraph though... DWaterson 11:08, 13 July 2007 (UTC)

Oh alright Rogerborg, keep your wig on, it was my first contribution to Wikipedia which just happened to crop up as I was researching the topic. So shoot me. In future I'll just leave it to experts like you. --Geedus71 16:34, 13 July 2007 (UTC)geedus71, 18:33 13 July 2007

Fact and fiction should not be mixed. What next, a news clipping about urban myths about Buffy on SMG's entry?- perfectblue 19:27, 26 July 2007 (UTC)

Ratels in film
I believe a ratel played a featured role in The Gods Must Be Crazy, either I or II. Anybody know about this? Does it merit a citation in the article? Diogenes 06:15, 20 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Having just watched again the film The Gods Must Be Crazy II on DVD, I can confirm this. Actually, I am currently visiting the page because of this movie. :-) Gingko (talk) 22:19, 31 December 2007 (UTC)


 * I am visiting this page because of mention of honey badgers in TopGear episode 10x08 where the boys drive through Africa. According to Jeremy Clarkson "a honey badgers doesnt kill you to eat you, it tears off your testicles" Ah well, that turns out to be a false then. Asestar (talk) 16:40, 31 March 2008 (UTC)


 * That's how I ended up here also, was surprised to find it was a real animal. I've heard the urban legend from somewhere else before TG however, so would it be worth including this as a side note alongside the other existing entry in the urban legends section? 82.46.180.56 (talk) 13:28, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

Merge Killer Badger into this article
The result was merge into ratel. -- Bullzeye Complaint Dept./Contribs) 05:21, 20 July 2007 (UTC)

The so called "Killer badgers" are not a paranormal phenomenon at all; they clearly refer to the Ratel, with its ferocity overstated. I find it hard to see why a rumour merits a page of its own, so feel the Killer Badger page should be incorporated here. Verisimilus  T  20:18, 19 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Agree - merge Willy turner 20:39, 19 July 2007 (UTC)


 * I also agree with the merge. JGerretse 20:47, 19 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Agree with merge. --ukexpat 21:51, 19 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Agreed Cobratom 23:06, 19 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Agreed also, though there should remain a redirect from Killer badger to Ratel (as it is far too wonderful an article name to be allowed to simply disappear). Collabi 04:16, 20 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Agreed Arthurian Legend 05:13, 20 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Agreed. Invoking WP:SNOW and merging. Bullzeye Complaint Dept./Contribs) 05:21, 20 July 2007 (UTC)

24 hours is insufficient time. WP:Snow does not apply as relevant parties were to aware that this was happening and thus could not respond. I, the page's creator, was not informed of this therefor I could not object. - perfectblue 17:22, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

Arguement was irrelevant as the Killer Badger falls under the purview of Cryptozoology not fact. It's sources do lie with the Ratel, however their increased aggression is suspected to be either due to rabies or heatstroke.Angry Mustelid (talk) 22:03, 5 August 2011 (UTC)

Range?
What's their range? A nifty map would be nice. Arthurian Legend 05:14, 20 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Indeed it would, part of the article says they're native to the Kalahari, and then they turn up in Iraq. Map, please, somebody. Totnesmartin 08:18, 20 July 2007 (UTC)
 * There's a range map on the IUCN Red List page on the honey badger (ref 1 in the article). (There are so many inaccurate range maps in WP articles that I now ignore them and go to the IUCN page anyway.) --Stfg (talk) 08:50, 1 August 2010 (UTC)

Split
The Ratel is a real life flesh and blood creature with an established scientific background. Thus it is wholly inappropriate that it include a section about an urban legend based on 60% anti-western paranoia and propaganda and 40% sightings of a handful of Ratel near Basra airport. The section should be spun of into it's own entry so as to avoid any confusion between the real creature and a myth loosely based on it.

Having an urban legend involving an animal on the page about the animal is a bad idea in anybody's book. You might as well have a section on Donald Duck on the entry for duck, or a union of King Kong and the page about the great apes.

Let's separate fact and fiction and put an end to this nonsense.

perfectblue 19:24, 26 July 2007 (UTC)

Agreed to splitting it out. I enjoyed the section but the 'Killer badger' definitely hurt the eye. It has no place in this section. It is like adding a section on Cujo, Stephen King's killer dog, under the dog (Canis lupus familiaris) section.

rvanrensburg 29 July 2007

The difference is, the ratel is not as well known as, say, the dog. While, IMO, the infobox on the "killer badger" section should go, the ratel IS somewhat well known for being mistaken for a killer badger. It's like not mentioning paranoia about giant squids on the article about giant squids. So keep merged.J&#39;onn J&#39;onzz 21:25, 1 August 2007 (UTC)


 * Adding an urban legend about a real creature into the page about the creature sets some very unprofessional presidents that could bite other entries if they are copied over. Why not merge chupacabra with the pages for every animal that has been mistaken for one? Or merge Nessie into pages about anything and everything that people have proposed that it might really be from an oversize otter to a pair of seals. There is enough material here for a separate article and it jars nastily with the factual information on the page. perfectblue 17:31, 2 August 2007 (UTC)

I also agree that the infobox on the "killer badger" section should go. With that removed and the text on the killer badger trimmed a bit, I don't think it would be out of place here at all. IMO, of course. JGerretse 23:47, 9 August 2007 (UTC)


 * The info box actually needs to stay, it's a standard component belonging to another project which was actually the project that created the killer badger content in the first place. If people insist on merging articles from two completely unrelated projects, then they must respect the boundaries of that project. The box should only go when the entire section goes.


 * How about we remove the Ratel infobox instead. No?, I didn't think that you would like that suggestion, well, it's the same for the other project. - perfectblue 06:48, 12 August 2007 (UTC)


 * Fair enough about the infobox. I didn't look at it from a separate project standpoint. I suppose I looked at the killer badger content as simply supplementary details about the ratel. I see your point. JGerretse 20:43, 15 August 2007 (UTC)


 * It seems to me there exists sufficient notability to justify a separate article. BBC news, the telegraph, etc. ---J.S (T/C/WRE) 01:28, 14 August 2007 (UTC)

Split (done)
I agree with the above discussion on the split. I also think the merge was closed prematurely. The current consensus seems to be with the split, so I have split it. If there are people who feel very strongly that it should be re-merged, then an RfC needs to be started. -Kieran 11:40, 17 September 2007 (UTC)

For a few reasons supporting this: -Kieran 11:47, 17 September 2007 (UTC)
 * A seperate WikiProject has adopted the article on the animal as a cryptid, and has created an infobox. That infobox clashes with the infobox on the factual animal if placed in the same article
 * There's a general tendency not to want all of the fictional information cluttering up the factual article here. (eg: See Talk:Ratel above).
 * The current consensus on the talk page is in support of the split.

Running backward?
The french version of this article says that the badger is the only mammal that can run backwards, although there is mention of this on the english version. Can someone confirm? 198.73.165.1 (talk) 15:02, 23 April 2008 (UTC)

Humans can run backwards... --82.180.28.162 (talk) 06:31, 20 September 2011 (UTC)

Honey Badger Ring
Can I get a citation on the Nick Saban and the Honey Badger Ring? I can't find corroborating evidence for that trivia anywhere else. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.106.37.180 (talk) 21:38, 13 October 2008 (UTC)

"Most fearless animal"

 * The badgers have been named the most fearless animal[2] in the Guinness Book of World Records.

What a pointless category! The Guinness Book has really gone downhill in recent years. 86.135.7.218 (talk) 15:09, 11 November 2009 (UTC)


 * Yes indeed. Also, the "citation" references a web page advertising a children's TV program that doesn't support the contention. I've removed it. Besides, the most fearless animal is the amoeba :) --Stfg (talk) 16:55, 3 August 2010 (UTC)

National Geographic documentary
"In a 2002 National Geographic documentary titled 'Snake killers: Honey badgers of the Kalahari', a badger named Kleinman was documented stealing a meal out of a puff adder's mouth and casually eating the meal in front of the hissing snake. After the meal, Kleinman began to hunt the puff adder, the species being one of the badger's preferred venomous snakes. He managed to kill the snake and began eating it, but then collapsed on the dead snake as he had been bitten during the struggle. After about two hours he surprisingly awoke. Once he had recovered, the badger continued with his meal and then resumed his journey.[4]"

I'm not sure any of the above should be in the article.

1) Behaviour seen only once could be highly atypical

2) The supporting cite makes no mention of the episode

3) 'Naming' the animal is pointless

4) The use of the word "casually" is anthropomorphism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropomorphism) 91.107.200.77 (talk) 23:12, 23 August 2010 (UTC)

Honey Badger in literature
As far as I am aware, there has only been one fictional book (albeit for kids) that is about Honey Badgers - 'Honey Badgers' by Jamison Odone. This fact alone makes it worthy of inclusion in the literature section (far more so than a mention in a book "by" the Hamster). (Ruark's book 'The Honey Badger', while a decent read if you're bored, has nothing to do with Ratels. The title is more an allegory relating to his own personal circumstances at the time).Angry Mustelid (talk) 09:00, 9 October 2010 (UTC)

I have find in a Indian news paper. Infrecunt honey badger. Last 50 years after first time identifying in night time CCTV footage.

Almost last 50years to since people will not see this animal..

Food.. Honey, rat's. Snakes Sreeeeenivas (talk) 23:34, 8 April 2018 (UTC)

Tool Use
While it is nice to note it will roll logs to get at prey, this behavior doesn't seem to conform to the standards of tool use, but not being a true biologist, I am hesitant to remove the reference.

The name Ratel derives from the Dutch word for honeycomb, 'raat'. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 213.246.93.49 (talk) 19:48, 16 March 2011 (UTC)


 * Corrected in text. Dger (talk) 21:09, 15 December 2015 (UTC)

Youtube Randall video
Why is there no mention of this? 24.18.132.80 (talk) 02:30, 25 April 2011 (UTC)

Because honey badger don't care about wikipedia. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.15.23.230 (talk) 06:59, 29 April 2011 (UTC)

Is it time for an "In Popular Culture" section in the article, mentioning the Randall video? ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg ) I mean, come on, it has over 8 million views now. --70.89.189.78 (talk) 23:15, 27 May 2011 (UTC)

This could be the only time in history that the honey badger will be mentioned in popular culture LOL. 68.231.146.198 (talk) 03:19, 7 July 2011 (UTC)

I have a feeling the honey badger will make it into movie conversations and song lyrics given Randall's success — Preceding unsigned comment added by 205.161.125.254 (talk) 19:19, 7 July 2011 (UTC)

At the very least, Randall's video has led to the honey badger being mentioned in an episode of Glee and in a recent Madden commercial — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.19.50.14 (talk) 17:14, 25 August 2011 (UTC)

I think it should be mentioned!--208.89.207.226 (talk) 23:14, 8 September 2011 (UTC)

Mention it, don't mention it... honey badger don't care. 20:49, 27 September 2011 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.23.244.34 (talk)

It's not on Wikipedia because vets go ballistic with rage and delete it as vandalism? Honey Badger doesn't give a shit. It won't be allowed here, much like the incident at British Shorthair where they got way, way upset over people uploading the NEDM "Happy Cat" image, located on a site that is now blocked because of said incident. They really, really got butthurt over that one.  Agent Vodello OK, Let's Party, Darling! 16:11, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

It is now listed in the Popular Culture section. -- Resuna (talk) 16:03, 17 January 2013 (UTC)

no mention of the honeyguide?
come on, the honey badger and honeyguide are BFFs! they have a special relationship... i think its worth noting? W e d g e 20:13, 16 May 2011 (UTC)
 * What the hell is the honeyguide????? --70.89.189.78 (talk) 23:11, 27 May 2011 (UTC)

There's no evidence for the relationship between honeyguides and honey badgers. It should be regarded as a myth until proven otherwise. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 60.225.34.63 (talk) 23:48, 11 March 2012 (UTC) Reference the following to demonstrate that there is no verified relation between the Honeyguide's and the Honey Badger. 1. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1523-1739.1990.tb00272.x/abstract 2. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/09/19/lies-damned-lies-and-honey-badgers/. However the article still states this relationship is true. This should be edited for accuracy, or provided sourcing to demonstrate its accuracy. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.0.145.83 (talk) 09:39, 21 July 2013 (UTC)

"honey badger don't give a s--t"
This phrase has been appearing on the page on a regular basis for quite some time now. Those that post it (or similar) should face an automatic ban (inc. IP blocking). Anyone?Angry Mustelid (talk) 21:58, 5 August 2011 (UTC)
 * Why?199.106.103.249 (talk) 04:59, 22 September 2011 (UTC)

I disagree about the ban. I even think a quick nod should be given to the meme since it is pretty wide spread. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 38.101.70.68 (talk) 21:00, 14 August 2011 (UTC)
 * It might be a point to include a note about the meme as long as it can be sourced properly (however I'm not sure that useless youtube videos like that are, or even should be, countable as sources; I believe only legitimate published articles are acceptable - you know, the same way that on a university assignment or thesis that Wikipedia cannot be quoted without original referred sources).Angry Mustelid (talk) 04:25, 17 August 2011 (UTC)
 * Is the Wikipedia standard for a "source" that it be "useful"? I was unaware of that criterion. As it happens, in this case, the "original source" of the meme is a YouTube video, which you have subjectively called "useless", so your ad hoc criterion seems designed to exclude all mention of the meme, perhaps because you personally find it silly...or "useless".  Ridiculous reasoning.  199.106.103.249 (talk) 05:03, 22 September 2011 (UTC)
 * See Identifying reliable sources. --- Barek (talk • contribs) - 05:09, 22 September 2011 (UTC)

Does Forbes count? http://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelhumphrey/2011/04/21/a-chat-with-randall-on-nasty-honey-badgers-bernie-madoff-and-fame/ — Preceding unsigned comment added by 50.0.76.28 (talk) 02:00, 16 September 2011 (UTC)

Lighten up, Mustelid. You're getting a little too pissed over something so lighthearted. Level 1 warning template, that's it.  Agent Vodello OK, Let's Party, Darling! 21:34, 9 October 2011 (UTC)

It is now listed in the Popular Culture section. -- Resuna (talk) 16:00, 17 January 2013 (UTC)

Capitalization
Shouldn't this be pointing to Honey badger, instead of here? It's not capitalized within the article itself. —Torchiest talkedits 00:05, 31 July 2011 (UTC)

testicles?
Do they make charge at testicles, or is that Topgear humour? --88.89.69.123 (talk) 21:37, 6 August 2011 (UTC)


 * It's an urban legend. Keith and Coleen Begg, probably the pre-eminent experts on Mellivora capensis, did not observe the behavior during their three year (1996 to 1999) study of honey badgers in the Kalahari. They found it first reported in the literature in 1947 in what they term a "circumstantial account." To date, there has been no verified sighting of this behavior. See http://www.honeybadger.com/faq.html, the question "Do Honey Badgers Emasculate Their Prey?" ScissorsMacGillicutty (talk) 04:02, 9 April 2013 (UTC)

Edit request from, 17 October 2011
HoneyBadger is also a company which has been established for many years in India. The business began in the Chandigarh tricity. Since then it has grown extensively, extending not only its size and range of services, but also the Tricity coverage area.

Saurabh0330 (talk) 03:45, 17 October 2011 (UTC)


 * There is no article about this company and thus might not be notable. For creating a new article, please go to WP:WIZ. mabdul 12:13, 17 October 2011 (UTC)

Edit request from, 21 November 2011
In popular culture

A honey badger appears in a running gag in the 1989 film The Gods Must Be Crazy II.[31]

In 2011 a video called "The Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger" became a popular Internet meme, achieving over 20 million views on YouTube as of October 2011.[32] The video features footage from the National Geographic Channel of honey badgers fighting jackals, invading beehives and eating cobras with voiceover by a character named Randall in a vulgar, effeminate, and sometimes exasperated narration, including the popular line that the honey badger "doesn't give a shit".[33] The video has been referenced in an episode of the popular television series Glee and commercials for the video game Madden NFL 12 and Wonderful Pistachios.[34]

Handmade hommages to The Honey Badger appeared en masse on Etsy in the form of Doormats www.damngooddoormats and more.

LSU Tigers' football player Tyrann Mathieu's nickname is "The Honey Badger". The nickname became popular during the 2011 college football season, when it's often referenced in the national media.[35]

Spoonpop (talk) 19:50, 21 November 2011 (UTC)
 * ❌, see no reason to include a website that does not appear to be notable-- Jac 16888 Talk 19:53, 21 November 2011 (UTC)

Edit request on 28 November 2011
Change 20,000,000 youtube views as of October to 25,000,000 million views as of November.

71.76.248.169 (talk) 04:46, 28 November 2011 (UTC)
 * Yes check.svg Done --Jnorton7558 (talk) 05:29, 28 November 2011 (UTC)

Mentioned on CBS telecast
12/3/11 during the SEC Championship game (college football). LSU has a player nicknamed Honey Badger (Tyronn Mathieu), and one of the announcers said he looked up honey badger on Wikipedia, and they showed the last paragraph of the lead on-screen, and read it aloud. If this page weren't under protection, I imagine that would've triggered a flurry of edits.  Enigma msg  22:51, 3 December 2011 (UTC)

Vandalism or bug?
The article body is displaying a comment about "Ew, gross!" right next to the part of the article that describes the honey badgers eating grubs. Pretty clearly vandalism, but when I try to edit it out, there is no such text to be removed. Either there is some kind of problem with the server or the vandal has found some kind of bug that is hiding the source of the vandalism. I feel that the fame of the video probably justifies a higher-than-default level of protection for this article... (Not sure if it's related, but the system apparently won't let me sign this comment.) Shanen (talk) 06:17, 16 February 2012 (UTC)

Calgary Roughnecks mascot
I propose an item to add to the Popular Culture section of the Honey Badger article. At the start of the 2012 National Lacrosse League season, the Calgary Roughnecks announced the replacement of their mascot Derrick (an oil rig worker) with a honey badger character. A contest to name the new mascot was also launched, which resulted in the honey badger being named Howie. Gylbert (talk) 21:14, 13 March 2012 (UTC)

"Next to the Wolverine, the Honey Badger has the most specialised diet of weasels" ???????????????
If you read the article, the diet is clearly not specialized, and if you connect to the source, it says the honey badger has the least specialized diet of it's kind. This sentence should be changed to read "least specialised". Sdupland2 (talk) 06:42, 25 May 2012 (UTC) Sdupland2

But, the Wolverine is the most specialised weasel ?????????????? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 217.129.241.130 (talk) 16:59, 8 April 2012 (UTC)

Edit request on 25 April 2012
"bare" is mispelled. The article says "bear" a few times, but they mean "bare".

205.156.36.13 (talk) 16:32, 25 April 2012 (UTC)


 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: Sorry, but the four instances all fall under the dictionary definitions at wikt:bear. Favonian (talk) 16:38, 25 April 2012 (UTC)

Edit request on 16 July 2012
I have not read the entire article, but an obvious error jumped out at me while I was browsing it. Under the heading "Diet", the following sentence appears:

"Next to the wolverine, the honey badger has the most specialised diet of the weasel family"

The reference provided directly contradicts this statement and it should instead read: "Next to the wolverine, the honey badger possibly has the least specialized diet of the weasel family".

The direct quote from the source (Kingdon, Jonathan (1989). East African mammals, Volume 3 : an atlas of evolution in Africa. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-43721-3. http://books.google.com/?id=bQjh35ER6ggC&pg=PR7) is the following:

"The ratel's diet is possibly less specialized than that of the other mustelids in the range of foods that have been recorded" (87).

98.223.182.210 (talk) 21:35, 16 July 2012 (UTC)
 * Done good catch. OhNo itsJamie Talk 22:20, 16 July 2012 (UTC)

Edit request on 15 August 2012
Please say that honey badgers are invincible please.

Gdawd1021 (talk) 04:55, 15 August 2012 (UTC)


 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. RudolfRed (talk) 06:02, 15 August 2012 (UTC)

Honey Badgers in computer gaming.
The Honey Badgers are a popular computer gaming group, specialising in first person shooter style games, specifically the Battlefield Play for Free Franchise. A group of gaming enthusiasts adopted the Honey Badger name for their group after coming to the realisation that this ferocious and fearless creature epitomised the very play style and don't care attitude that the Honey Badgers are so well known for. The Honey Badgers have an ethos strongly rooted in team work and playing the objective of the game, which is capping those flags and winning the round. The group has an oath which was coined by the well known BFP4F community member Chang: "Be without fear in the face of a baserape. Be brave and upright so that the Honey Badger may love thee. Cap the flag; even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the newb and QQ not... that is your oath." The Honey Badgers run BFP4F gaming servers that are open to anyone to play on and also run a website. http://honey-badgers.com Battlefield Play for Free (BFP4F) is a free to play game produced by Easy Studios in Sweden (an EA company) http://battlefield.play4free.com — Preceding unsigned comment added by Tonymortlock (talk • contribs) 15:07, 24 August 2012 (UTC)

Who cares? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 47.138.89.132 (talk) 08:14, 27 April 2018 (UTC)

Who IS Randall???
The viral video's narrator. Only a first name is ever given. Who is he? --76.105.145.143 (talk) 02:14, 23 December 2012 (UTC)

Common Misconception
It is said the Honey Badger's Skin can be used and made easily into body armor that will be able to stop low caliber ammo. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.26.135.138 (talk) 00:47, 29 January 2013 (UTC)

Impervious to arrows and spears
Seriously? Even though it's referenced by a source, surely this cannot be true! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.2.89.232 (talk) 18:13, 12 March 2013 (UTC)


 * Here is the full quote from page 116:
 * Others have found much the same; and it is commonly held that a direct shot in the head from a fairly powerful rifle is the only certain way of killing a honey badger. In the Bauchi area of Northern Nigeria it was well known that arrows and spears were almost useless and that the best, indeed reputedly only, way of certainly killing one of these animals was to club it over the back of the head. As opposed to these views the plain fact remains that though a few are damaged a very high proportion of the skulls in the British Museum have perfect craniums. In tussles with dogs it is usually the ratel that succeeds in sinking its teeth into its opponent, hanging on tirelessly, with jaws clenched like a vice, despite being banged on the ground or against trees or rocks, and finally, when the dog is completely exhausted, making off apparently none the worse for the experience. Sikes (1964a) found that, in play, a captive ratel being swung round hanging on to a sack actually appeared to enjoy being bumped roughly up and down on the ground.
 * --Fama Clamosa (talk) 17:37, 18 March 2013 (UTC)


 * Weeelll... truish, shall we say? There are a few mixed-up presumed facts (eg about the skulls) that don't prove much, and a lot of hyperbole, which is what hunters' tales batten on. Ratels are well-known in South Africa, and though, like the wolverine (which is something like twice as massive) it is the subject of many a tall tail, it is known to be really tough, proverbially so. It is commonly repeated that a ratel can be tackled by a pack of dogs and emerge unfazed, which is more than can be said for the dogs, though I doubt that the same would be true for some of the modern pathological products of breeding, such as pit bulls. A lion however can kill a mature ratel, and I don't know what the situation is in a fight between a ratel and a mature hyena. JonRichfield (talk) 06:15, 2 April 2013 (UTC)

"Truish"??? Is that supposed to be amusing? And Wikipedia calls itself a reliable source. LOL! If that's all you can come up with regarding the ability to effectively kill a honey-badger then you need to turn in whatever credential this lousy online dictionary gives you people and go write fantasy. Your referencing wouldn't pass muster in ANY science journal. In other words, it STINKS MR. EDITOR.

Edit request on 5 July 2013
Please remove the part about honeyguides leading honeybadgers. This is a common misconception. Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeyguide http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/09/19/lies-damned-lies-and-honey-badgers/

216.27.77.136 (talk) 14:36, 5 July 2013 (UTC)


 * Yes check.svg Done, and to discourage its re-insertion, I've adapted some text and sources from the Honeyguide article stating that there's no evidence. --Stfg (talk) 15:28, 6 October 2013 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 14 May 2014
Please correct spelling of Soutch Africa to South Africa in section: Behaviour -> Habits, third paragraph.

Brawsome (talk) 17:42, 14 May 2014 (UTC)

✅ Thanks for pointing that out - Arjayay (talk) 18:42, 14 May 2014 (UTC)

Name Change
When did this article title change from Ratel to Honey Badger? The fact that the alternative name was popularised on some youtube videos shouldn't necessitate an article heading change? I strongly propose a reversion to the original.

BelalHaniffa (talk) 14:14, 31 May 2014 (UTC)
 * According to [//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ratel&action=history ratel history] the move occurred in March 2008—a very long time ago in wiki years. Johnuniq (talk) 02:09, 1 June 2014 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 14 October 2014
The sentence, "Though not in the same subfamily as the wolverines, which are a genus of large-sized and atypical Mustelinae, the honey badger can be regarded as another, analogous, form of outsized weasel or polecat." under Taxonomy is incorrect. According to the wikipedia page regarding Mustelinae both honey badgers and wolverines are in the same subfamily.

98.163.224.169 (talk) 06:34, 14 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: Take a look at both Wolverine and this article. This article lists the honey badger under the subfamily Mellivorinae, while the wolverine is listed under Mustelinae Cannolis (talk) 05:01, 19 October 2014 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 21 November 2014
'fighting conspecifics' in 'Physical description' - could this be edited for the benefit of lay people? HPotato (talk) 22:36, 21 November 2014 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 19 February 2015
You may want to include a reference to a book of the same name by Robert Ruark see e.g., http://www.amazon.com/The-Honey-Badger-Robert-Ruark/dp/1568493266

147.4.180.30 (talk) 00:18, 19 February 2015 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: While this could be of some interest on Honey badger (disambiguation), it doesn't seem to have been a particularly noteworthy book of Ruark's. Cannolis (talk) 16:41, 19 February 2015 (UTC)

Honeybadger as the symbol of Hufflepuff house in the Harry Potter series
Could someone add this information? Thanks in advance. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 187.18.136.242 (talk) 23:11, 19 April 2015 (UTC)


 * It's a badger not a honey badger. Dger (talk) 20:43, 15 December 2015 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 23 April 2015
Ue58liam (talk) 14:23, 23 April 2015 (UTC)
 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format. --I am  k6ka  Talk to me!   See what I have done  14:36, 23 April 2015 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just added archive links to 1 one external link on Honey badger. Please take a moment to review my edit. If necessary, add after the link to keep me from modifying it. Alternatively, you can add to keep me off the page altogether. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/20110621134848/http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6222574655784103864 to http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6222574655784103864&q=land+of+the+tiger&total=271&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

When you have finished reviewing my changes, please set the checked parameter below to true to let others know.

Cheers. —cyberbot II  Talk to my owner :Online 14:15, 18 October 2015 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 29 November 2015
replace link for reference 25 (which does not work) with the following: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3bmmon (after 34 minutes)

Jamietratalos (talk) 18:25, 29 November 2015 (UTC)
 * ✅  Ete ethan  (talk)  21:06, 7 December 2015 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 13 March 2016
Please add the following to the "In popular culture" section: Honey Badgerz (pronounced Honey Badgerz with a Z) are a basketball team from Bucks County, PA notorious for their beastly defense, crisp passes and sweet shooting. Their diet consists of one food group: Skittles...lots of Skittles.

72.78.72.126 (talk) 16:46, 13 March 2016 (UTC)
 * ❌ uncited trivia - Arjayay (talk) 16:52, 13 March 2016 (UTC)

Honey badger in video games: Far Cry 4
Honey badgers feature fairly prominently in "Far Cry 4", as possibly the most fierce animal the player character (or really any character) can encounter. There is even a variant-repeatable side-quest centering on protecting groups of civilians from honey badger attacks - notably, the player character is given a fairly strong weapon (a LAW variant, if memory serves) for the task, and it still ends up being a fairly savage battle. These animal encounters are also the most likely to result in a fight and/or pursuit, with most other predators tending to back off when left alone. Personally, I've found these encounters to be much rougher than others (despite the animal's general weakness otherwise) because of the honey badger's presented tenacity, ferocity and the fact that it's very hard to reliably target, being constantly on the move and relatively small in general. It's not the toughest to kill, but certainly the most annoying. The game is actually where I learned of this pretty scary animal, having never have heard of its fame. 62.21.49.221 (talk) 23:18, 13 November 2017 (UTC)
 * Do you have any reliable sources outside of your personal opinions and experience that discuss the notability of Far Cry 4's honey badger and or how Far Cry 4's honey badger portrayal shapes the public perception of honey badgers?--Mr Fink (talk) 16:22, 14 November 2017 (UTC)

Mating and Parental Care
The rare instances that honey badgers hunt in groups is during their mating season and they help the females acquire food. The other instance is when the female is raising the young honey badgers. The parental care in the males is no existent, but the females have a moderate amount of parental care from birth until it reaches maturity. The Honey badgers are non-monogamous, and their mating habits are somewhat of a mystery due to lack of research. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Fjaramillo91 (talk • contribs) 20:18, 4 December 2017 (UTC)

sounds like myth and a bunch of baloney.
You've only got one reference from the 1970s that says that honey badger skin is virtually impervious to spears and arrows. And that you have to shoot it in the head to kill it. This sounds like legend, myth, whatever. What some people may want to believe. And you're not backing it up with enough evidence. One reference? LOL. Not good enough. You make the animal sound like Super Man. Or Super Badger as the case may be. Wikipedia is supposed to be based on fact, right? A non-killable animal sounds like BS to me. Your credibility is lacking. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 47.138.89.132 (talk) 08:20, 27 April 2018 (UTC)

Maybe you'd like to explain what this is below? You've only referenced ONE source. You need more than one to make claims like this. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 47.138.89.132 (talk) 08:24, 27 April 2018 (UTC)

Could this be added to the Article
The South African's Army Infantry Fighting Vehicle Ratel is named after the Afrikaans name for the Honey Badger - Ratel — Preceding unsigned comment added by 192.176.203.10 (talk) 16:49, 18 May 2018 (UTC)
 * I like the idea. The Ratel IFV. Fwiw would also be an interesting addition to the Afrikaans article here. Slight Smile 17:25, 18 May 2018 (UTC)
 * Done. Slight Smile 14:49, 22 May 2018 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 26 November 2018
Suggest you correct "bee honey" to "honey", since this is English not German. 88.130.111.9 (talk) 11:30, 26 November 2018 (UTC)

diversity
The honey badger has a very diverse ecology which ranges from Europe, Asia, Russia, and Africa. While a majority of honey badgers are found in Africa the honey badger can survive in almost any climate. The honey badger can survive in the cold weather as well as the Sahara Desert. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Fjaramillo91 (talk • contribs) 19:37, 4 December 2017 (UTC)
 * The article you cite does not place the honey badger in Europe. It does make mention of the European badger, which lives in...--Quisqualis (talk) 01:42, 28 February 2019 (UTC)

Another pop culture reference
Since this page is protected, consider adding the following to the "pop culture" section.

50.53.96.83 (talk) 07:16, 24 February 2019 (UTC)
 * A subplot of the 1989 film The Gods Must Be Crazy II concerns a zoologist who inadvertently steps on a honey badger while stranded in the Kalahari desert, at which point the creature pursues him and his companion for the remainder of the film, attempting to cling to his boot in "revenge".
 * If the subplot is not mentioned in the main article, then it is not notable enough to be included in the "In Popular Culture" section.--Mr Fink (talk) 16:02, 24 February 2019 (UTC)
 * On what authority do you make such a claim? My edit fits right into the section. It has a cited source. I dislike edit warring, but any reports of your deification may be somewhat exaggerated.--Quisqualis (talk) 23:41, 27 February 2019 (UTC)
 * Did you consider, instead of making personal attacks against me in revenge for reverting your edit, looking at the guidelines at Wikipedia:In Popular Culture Examples? That, and the source cited doesn't explain the notability of the example nor the subplot's importance to the movie.  I mean, you and the source you gave still haven't addressed why, if this minor subplot is not important enough to discuss in the original page, why would it be important enough to mention here?--Mr Fink (talk) 00:02, 28 February 2019 (UTC)

They aren't invincible
Honey badgers may be extremely brave and tough little SOBs but they are NOT invincible. This article makes it seem otherwise, only acknowledging that in "rare cases" a lion might be persistent enough to kill one and "Leopards are also occasionally mentioned as predators" but "cases of successful predation on adult honey badgers is even rarer". Elsewhere in the article it is stated that their skin can withstand spears and machetes and they chase away young lions and steal their kills. The source for much of this is a book published 45 years ago.

A quick perusal of Youtube dispels this:

Lions killing honey badgers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngkfiO5bsYA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p4MD-VFHls

Leopards killing honey badgers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSo0v-Zipr0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEDl-AapyCU

It is more probable that they don't get hunted by lions and leopards very often because there are usually bigger and easier meals available. While a honey badger can fend them off, lions and leopards do also successfully hunt them.

A more balanced summary might be:

Due to their ferociousness and the availability of easier prey, honey badgers are not usually targeted by larger predators, although there have been instances of them being successfully hunted by lions and leopards. 2A00:23C4:FD8E:4B00:F1CF:34B7:418F:DBEF (talk) 23:52, 15 May 2019 (UTC)


 * I agree completely, this article is wrong and ridiculous in that part.--Giaco (talk) 12:32, 8 October 2019 (UTC)