The honey badger, also known as the ratel, is a small, fierce mammal that is widely distributed in Africa, Southwest Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.1 They are related to skunks, otters, ferrets, and other badgers.02 Honey badgers are voracious omnivores that get their name from their fondness for feeding on honey and honeybee larvae. They also eat insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, roots, bulbs, berries, and fruits. They can adapt to a variety of conditions, from warm rain forests to cool mountains, and their home ranges can be as vast as about 193 square miles. Most honey badgers are active throughout the day, though near human settlements they may prefer the cover of darkness.