Russano the Wise was a male badger, the husband of Lady Rosalaun and the father of Melanius and Snowstripe. Russano was the fifth great-grandsire of Lady Merola and the sixth great-grandsire of Sagaxus. As an orphaned infant, Russano was discovered by the hares of the Long Patrol in Mossflower Woods. The squirrel Russa Nodrey lost her life defending the baby badger from the vermin that killed his guardian, an old unnamed badger who was presumably Russano's grandmother, or nanny. The infant was named Russano in honor of Russa and her sacrifice.