This is a badger.

Probably one of the coolest things about living and working in nature are the animals you run into. I've encountered bears, porcupines, deer, elk, moose, bald eagles, hawks, antelope, skunks, gila monsters, rattlesnakes, etc. You name it and there is a good chance I've seen or had an encounter with it.

This is a badger that I ran into while looking at some property near Salida, Colorado. Despite me being in a huge four-wheel drive truck, this little fighter stood his ground and hissed, growled and snarled at me while I took his photograph.