There were mushrooms in Tennessee...though I mostly encountered ground hogs and raccoons in Tennessee.
We have badgers run around in our area (SW Wyoming) but there is usually only one that "resides" in our plant yard...we have tons of cottontails around. The fact that this guy keeps being seen probably means the BIG bastage that has been around for a year or so probably either moved or died. Like Tam said, they are very territorial. When the big one moved in we had "areas" of fur, bone, red unidentifable matter and meat left all over the place from where he massacred a rabbit...looked funny in the winter This same big badger surprised me one day when I was walking toward him and didn't realize it...he was behind a cement tank support and hissed at me...I thought it was some weird gas relief and was looking around to see where it came from...apparently I didn't understand badger-hiss language. He (She?) did this loud dirt-fling thing and spread way out while hissing/growling at me. I left. This badger would dig holes...I mean tunnels... overnight that were incredible.
Check this little guy out from quite a few years ago. The funny thing is the dude (still know him) that thought he was going to help carry the cat down to safety...LOL. Ever try to put a cat in a pillow case? This would have been 10X worse!!!
or possums... both have very sharp front teeth. Possums only use them when cornered. Badgers might run you down if they're having a bad day.
