Where are badgers generally found?

The origin of the badger is not entirely certain. It is suggested that primitive badger-forms existed as long ago as 4 million years - possibly coming from the Pliocene genus Melodon in China. The original badger line then evolved from the temperate forests of Asia, spreading West into Europe. The earliest fossil of the badger is Thoral's badger (Meles Thorali) and was in France at Saint-Villier, near Lyons, and is perhaps 2 million years old. Other similar fossils were found in China, so this species was probably very widespread. By the early to middle Pleistocene, Europe was inhabited by badgers similar to the modern species.