Earlier this month, Tom Howe found himself driving along the stunning Padre Island National Seashore in Texas. He was sailing along the sandy shore when he noticed something interesting.
“I saw it from a distance, and at first I thought it was a turtle coming ashore to lay eggs,” Howe told The Dodo. “Then it moved, and it was clear it was something else.”
Source: Tom Howe
Howe stopped his journey out of pure curiosity and seized his camera in an effort to solve the puzzle.
As he took a step closer, Howe's eyes realized that the creature was not a marine mammal but rather some sort of land mammal. It was walking casually through the sand and surf.
Source: Tom Howe
Source: Tom Howe
The sight actually left Howe in awe. Never before had he encountered a badger in this area, and it left a lasting impression.
“Seeing a badger in the wild was on my bucket list,” Howe confessed. “[Badgers] belong here on the island, but they usually prefer to keep to themselves.”
Source: Tom Howe
As the badger nosed around and sifted through the sand for a meal, Howe, with the safety of a zoom lens, observed the creature without disturbing its natural rhythm.
“He was healthy,” Howe said. “After coming out of the water, he looks like a wet dog — not as fluffy, but clearly healthy. He chased and caught several sand crabs.”
Source: Tom Howe
Badgers are rarely seen because they are reluctant to be seen, so seeing one is a rare treat. And even when you accidentally meet a badger, they're often fleeting glimpses obscured by the landscape.
However, the badger that Howe encountered didn't seem to be in a hurry to vanish from view.
Source: Tom Howe
After capturing a collection of incredible snapshots, Howe eventually chose to part ways with the badger, continuing his journey homeward.
“I finally left him to his journey,” Howe said, admitting that his chance sighting that day will be one that’s hard to top. “I was shocked to realize what I was seeing.”