Iowa Family Catches Very Different Animal Than They Were Hoping [VIDEO]

An eastern Iowa family who lives near Waverly, and close to the Cedar River, had a garden that was being enjoyed a little too much by raccoons. So, they decided to put out a cage in the hopes they could capture the offender(s). Oh, they caught something alright, just not what they were expecting.

Imagine their surprise when they found a very angry American Badger in the cage. I wonder if they drew straws to see who had to let him out? Make sure your sound is turned up to hear him in the video below. He sounds like a cross between a snake, snarling dog, hog, and Darth Vader.

While most of us have never seen one in person, American Badgers are native to the state of Iowa. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says they're found in all 99 Iowa counties with the most in the southern and western parts of the state. The reason they're seldom seen is that they're nocturnal and spend most of their time underground.

American Badgers are protected by those nasty claws (in the photo above), along with sharp teeth, that snarl, and a pungent smell they exude when threatened. A meat-eating carnivore, the only water American Badgers consume is from what they eat. National Geographic says they can range in weight from around 9 pounds all the way up to 26.

I found a really surprising fact about a dog breed that was actually developed to chase badgers into their burrows. Britannica says dachshund is actually German for "badger dog." We learned something today.

You can learn more about the American Badger in the video below. Unlike the man in this video, if I ever see one, I'll keep my distance.