Wikipedia:WikiBadger

Not to be confused with badgering.

WikiBadger
A WikiBadger, they just don't care.
Conservation status
Critically Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Mustelidae
Subfamily:	Mellivorinae
Genus:	Mellivora
Species:	M. wikicapensis
Binomial name
Mellivora wikicapensis (Jimbo Wales, 2014)
Range shown in white

A WikiBadger preparing to sink its teeth into an unlucky newcomer

WikiBadgers (Mellivora wikicapensis) are a form of WikiFauna with the reputation for latching onto whatever crosses their path until something dies or the WikiBadger is cautiously detached and thrown across the room by a very careful admin.

Behavior

Wikibadgers are relatively solitary, somewhat selfish at times, creatures, that roam around the WikiWastes and deserts, always looking for something interesting to stick their claws in. They are small in build and not particularly strong and while in many ways, are quite bold when it comes to editing, they generally speaking will avoid participating in spaces that are contentious, or make overtly bold edits. However they won't make a special effort to avoid drama or flame-wars either. Their self-preservation instincts, are extraordinarily absent, compared to other WikiFauna. When they feel like they're being backed into a corner, they will ignore all instincts, and fight back viciously. They can become so ferocious, to the point that they make all other Wikifauna, including the notorious WikiLions and WikiHyenas, regret ever coming into contact with them.

They have a naturally hot temperament but can keep their impulses under control as long as they are well fed. However, because of their naturally suspicious nature, they often react quite brashly to a perceived slight or criticism. This puts them at odds with WikiBouncers who do not tolerate incivility, no matter what the excuse is, and who often report them to the WikiPolice. WikiBadgers are quite bad at recognizing authority and often get into trouble because of that. They abhor drama but often find themselves falling into it.

Threat Response

A WikiBadger, making ready to tackle a vandal

WikiBadgers are renowned for attaching themselves using their powerful jaws to a target that made the mistake of crossing their path. This is a serious problem when WikiFauna like WikiPuppies and WikiInfants are concerned, but in the case of vandals and other pests, WikiBadgers are useful, if not fun to watch. Badgering is named after extreme examples of this behavior, though a WikiBadger usually does not care unless something has threatened the WikiBadger's family or burrows. Rabid badgers can be quite disruptive before being put down, but a healthy badger normally does not care about anything but defense of the site, to the exclusion of all opinions, prior claims of allegiance, or even simple rules.

Association with anti-vandalism

WikiBadgers aren’t officially tasked with any specific duties on Wikipedia, but some users associate them with anti-vandalism efforts. While most WikiBadgers do not focus on combating vandalism, a notable number do. The exact number of WikiBadgers involved in anti-vandalism activities isn't precisely known, making it difficult to determine how many are primarily dedicated to this task compared to other Wikipedia activities.

Relationship to other WikiFauna

A WikiBadger, searching and burrowing for vandalism in the wild

WikiBadgers are quite adept at fighting off illegitimate sockpuppets, vandals, and WikiGoblins, and can even tip the scales in a battle against WikiTrolls (although some trolls are known to wear coteries of badgers as armor), rampaging WikiGiants, and even WikiVampires. WikiBadgers commonly share burrows with and hunt alongside certain species of WikiCanids, relying on the faster WikiCanid to track down prey that the WikiBadger digs out and cleaning up messes left by the WikiCanids. WikiGnomes almost never have trouble sharing space with WikiBadgers, and may even rely on them as valuable mounts when drawn into large-scale battles with giants.

High level WikiWitches and WikiWizards may have WikiBadgers as familiars, although regardless of level, most are capable of magically summoning them.

Despite a number of differences in behavior, WikiBadgers are somehow related to WikiOtters.

Relationship to WikiRodents

Because of their similar natures, WikiBadgers sometimes exhibit features of WikiRodents, and vice-versa. For this reason, it is common for people to have both the WikiBadger Userbox as well as the WikiRodent Userbox on their userpage.^{[this isn't actually true]}

Identification

If you are a WikiBadger and wish to identify yourself, feel free to use this userbox:

userbox
Code Result {{Template:User wikipedia/WikiBadger}} This user is a WikiBadger. Usage

Recent events

See also: Wikipedia:WikiFallen § WikiBadgers

A WikiBadger mother preparing to start teaching one of her young

Several WikiBadgers have been hunted, enough so that the species is now threatened. Primarily, WikiBouncers and WikiTigers found them to be too disrespectful of newer editors and thus were banished by a council of WikiKnights. While many have redeemed themselves and been allowed back into the animal kingdom, too many became WikiFallen and fed to the WikiGiants. As a result of this, they were declared an endangered species.

A WikiBadger watching the area to get ready to attack bugs.

In late 2021 a total count in the wild was done and it was discovered they were critically endangered, as only around 10 could be located.^{[Update 2024: Investigations have uncovered that the ones counted were actually in a reservation. There are probably more in the wild. Praise our lord Jimbus!]}