American badger habitat is open grasslands with available prey (such as mice, squirrels, and groundhogs). The species prefers areas with sandy loam soils where it can dig more easily for its prey, such as prairie regions. American badgers are largely nocturnal, but have been reported to be active during the day as well. They do not hibernate, but become less active in winter. A badger may spend much of the winter in cycles of torpor that last around 29 hours. They do emerge from their setts when the temperature is above freezing