Can badgers be kept as pets?  Answer will tell:

(1) whether badgers can be reasonably domesticated as pets (e.g. won't
rip your arm off)

(2) is it legal to keep badgers as pets in the US or other countries

Badgers can indeed be kept as pets. The greatest success is had when
the badger is raised from infancy by humans. In the United States, the
legality of having a pet badger varies from locality to locality; many
urban areas have ordinances forbidding the keeping of normally-wild
animals within the city limits. Some states require a license.

"I have heard of people who have kept badgers as pets and despite
their reputation, they tend to be fairly laid back animals when hand
raised."

Post in Yahoo Zookeepers' Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/zookeeper/message/1115

"I've heard that badgers make good pets. You have to get them early,
though. In some/most states, you'll need a permit from the USDA or
USDI. I was unable to purchase one earlier this year because I do not
have the permit yet. I've talked with a woman who compared her badgers
to dogs, and said that hers actually got along with her dogs."

Post in rec.pets newsgroup
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=lang_en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&safe=off&selm=CoIs2z.ECw%40mcc.com

"Positives of Badgers as pets? 
As with any animal you take into your home you will have a loving
companion. When raised from a young age they can be very docile and
devoted pets. Learning first hand about an animal that usually is seen
only pictures is a most rewarding experience.

Negatives of Badgers as pets? 
You will have to find a vet for them. Not all vets will treat exotics
or should we say unusual animals. They do require a little extra
effort to take care of, being as strong as they are. I would not
recommend letting them run the yard like a pet dog or cat. They can do
some extensive damage to your yard by digging and tunneling. In most
states you will have to have a license or state permit to keep them."

Cached copy: Fantasia Exotics
http://216.239.53.104/search?q=cache:TIGbvKrh9r0J:www22.brinkster.com/efexoticanimals/badgertext.html+%22badgers+as+pets%22&hl=en&lr=lang_en&ie=UTF-8

More on pet badgers:

Kansas Prairie
http://kansasprairie.net/archives/00000510.htm

Badger Tales
http://www.nidlink.com/~smoshea/pages/badge/btales.html

As a volunteer with an animal rescue agency, I urge you to consider
becoming familiar with the ways of wild creatures before trying to
raise a wild animal as a pet. You may want to volunteer at your local
zoo or assist at a "safari" type animal preserve in your area. This
will enable you to get a close-up look at the behaviors of many
species, and evaluate the possible drawbacks that may accompany a wild
pet.

Here's an excellent article about keeping wildlife as pets. This
article is specifically oriented toward Georgia, but the first
section, "A Guide to Legal Pets," is worth reading, regardless of
where you live.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources
https://georgiawildlife.dnr.state.ga.us/content/printversion.asp?txtDocument=6

Google search strategy: 

Google Web Search: "badgers as pets"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22badgers+as+pets

Google Groups Search: "badgers as pets"
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=%22badgers+as+pets

I hope this information is useful! If anything is unclear, or if a
link doesn't work for you, please request clarification; I'll be glad
to offer further assistance before you rate my answer.

Best wishes,
pinkfreud

Fantastic! And answered in under 45 minutes!!

Thank you very much for the five-star rating and the nice tip.

~pinkfreud

............not if they behave like Koalas ( Koala bears to
Americans). My first pet Koala was not friendly at all and never
adapated to my family like a dog does.
 My first pet Kangaroo on the other hand  was a beauty and did in fact
become like a member of the family and behave somewhat like a pet dog
does.

 Living in the bush at one time or another in Australia,  a young boy
or girl has a pet everything that lives around the place. Most common
I suppose would be the big White Cockatoo that evryone knows( or the
pink version, or a galah etc)
 Quite irrelevant to your question of course so forgive my
impertinence here  for treading where I was not required