Meet O’Neill’s Badger-Snatching, Muskrat-Scruffing State Champ Wrestler
https://hailvarsity.com/wrestling/its-just-the-adventure-of-the-whole-deal-meet-oneills-badger-snatching-muskrat-scruffing-state-champ-wrestler/While on the ride, something caught Ty’s eye against the vast whiteness of Big Sky country.
“We’re driving along in a pickup, and Ty’s sitting in the backseat and my buddy and I are sitting in the front driving across this beautiful ranch,” Monte recalled. “Ty says, ‘What is that up there?’ We got a little bit closer and he yells out, ‘That’s a badger!’ And I said, ‘By gosh, that is a badger.’ Then he goes, ‘Can I go catch it?’ My buddy about fell out of the pickup and he looked at Ty and said, ‘Are you crazy?'”
It’s all about the thrill of the hunt—that’s why Ty wanted to catch that badger in Montana. So Monte gave his son the green light to start the chase while the two watched from inside the pickup.
As Ty trudged through the snow toward the badger, back in the pickup, Jason turned to Monte and said, “What’s he thinking? He’s going to get hurt.'” Monte replied, “Well, it’ll just happen once and he won’t try to catch another one.”
Ty wanted to try his hand at catching live badgers after seeing videos of other people doing it. For many, that doesn’t sound like the greatest of ideas. Adult badgers can grow to 30-35 inches in length and weigh an average of about 12-16 pounds. Some can even get over 20 pounds as they prepare for winter. Their claws are long, too—about 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 inches. When cornered, badgers get mean and dangerous in a hurry.
When Ty eventually caught up to the animal, a wrestling match of sorts broke out—bad news for the badger.
One thing about badgers—their skin is loose. That makes them easier to grab, but it also allows them to twist and turn further than you’d think. Watch your fingers.
https://hailvarsity.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Ty-Rainforth-ONeill-badger-boy.mp4?_=2