Wolverine vs. Badger: An Intensely Scrappy Showdown

The wolverine has the weight advantage. A male wolverine can weigh 24 to 40 pounds (11 to 18 kilograms), nearly double the average honey badger.

They're dark brown with a distinctive white stripe along their sides and powerful levers for muscle. Wolverines also have very strong claws, useful for digging and cutting into prey.

Honey badgers average 13 to 30 pounds (6 to 14 kilograms), but don’t let the small size fool you. These animals are tanks.

Their thick hide and loose skin make them hard to injure. A honey badger’s hide is so tough, it can withstand bites from lions, snakes and even other honey badgers. A struggling honey badger can twist around even while pinned and deliver painful bites.

Wolverines have strong jaws and sharp teeth built to crush bone. Their powerful bite allows them to feed on frozen carcasses and prey. Their claws are equally formidable, used not just for fighting but also for climbing trees and digging dens.

Honey badgers have powerful jaws capable of cracking tortoise shells, and they use their long claws to dig through hard soil.

They have five toes on each foot, with long, curved claws ideal for digging — and for ripping into predators. Nothing is going to kill honey badgers without taking some serious damage in the process.

European badgers, in contrast, are less aggressive and focus on burrowing. But even they can defend themselves with their claws and sharp teeth when threatened.

In a face-off, both animals are known for their ferocity. The wolverine’s greater strength and weight give it a better chance in a prolonged mutual mutilation, but the honey badger’s resilience makes it hard to kill. They’re both capable of biting, clawing and grappling for extended periods.

Wolverines rely on brute force and an offensive approach. Honey badgers often target weak points like eyes, ears and even genitals. That’s not random; it’s a survival strategy. The wolverine’s hide is thick, but the honey badger's hide is even thicker and more flexible.

Wolverines are found across the northern forests and tundras, while honey badgers roam Africa, Southwest Asia and the Indian subcontinent. European badgers stick to wooded regions across Europe.

Despite their different habitats, all badgers and wolverines share traits with other members of the weasel family, like fur-covered tails and incredible digging ability.

These animals have evolved to survive in environments packed with bigger predators. Wolverines will challenge wolves, and honey badgers have been seen scaring off powerful leopards. Their small size and tough bodies let them exploit niches that other animals can’t.

Not all wolverines are created equal. Male wolverines tend to be larger and more aggressive than females. In fights, this gender difference can matter. Similarly, not all badgers are honey badgers. The European badger, for instance, has a white stripe down its face and a more social nature, living in groups known as clans.

Some badgers and wolverines may coexist in the same ecosystems with bears and lions. Though they usually avoid these larger predators, they’ve been known to fight over food or territory.

The wolverine has the weight, strength and endurance. The honey badger has the thick skin, toughness and no-quit attitude. A one-on-one deathmatch could go either way depending on the conditions, but the wolverine might edge out due to its greater power.

Still, both animals are built for survival. They're not just fighters; they’re survivors in some of the harshest environments on Earth.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.