Porcupines are cute, prickly mammals that live in the desert, hills, and dense forests. They are very versatile, in that they can adapt to many different habitats. Because of this resilience, I became curious: how do porcupines care for their young? Adapting to various surroundings by themselves is one thing; caring for and protecting their …
Porcupines don’t hibernate, so they need to prepare for cold months, especially since they can be found in places that get very cold in the winter, such as Alaska. They start the winter with as much as half their weight being fat. With the knowledge of the warmer places to bed down, help from a …
One of my favorite facts about rainforests is that they’re cornucopias of life. According to worldrainforestday.org, rainforests contain about 50% of all terrestrial biodiversity. But, how many rainforests are there to be able to harbor such a considerable amount of ecosystems? Well, scientists don’t usually refer to the number of rainforests in the world per …
Porcupines are generally not aggressive animals; however, they will react if attacked. Their quills can be very sharp and painful for any animal or human being who tries to threaten them. Here is a closer look at the traits of a porcupine and whether or not they are a danger to other animals. What is …
Porcupines have twenty teeth. This includes four incisors and 16 molars. Like many members of the rodent family, their front two molars never stop growing. Unlike other rodents, their teeth are bright orange in color. With so many teeth, you would think that these animals would bite when fighting, but they are not known for …
Even though porcupines are best known for their sharp quills, there’s more to these rodents than meets the eye! Porcupines are nocturnal creatures, which means they’re mostly active at night. During this time, it’s common to see porcupines foraging for food, munching on grass, or even climbing trees! You might also find a porcupine in …
Porcupines are great swimmers. That is, some breeds of them are. The North American porcupine, the crested porcupine, and the brush-tailed porcupines all love swimming! You can go for a walk in a wooded area and probably wouldn’t be surprised to come across a porcupine nibbling on leaves or berries. Having one fall out of …
Porcupines are defined as rodents for all intents and purposes. However, there are also incredibly interesting creatures in that they live interesting lives and have at least some interaction with the human world. People sometimes want to know a few facts about porcupines that have been burning inside their minds since they first heard about …
Porcupine quills are always growing. They are made of a material very similar to our hair and nails, so they would actually become way too long for the short, round little critter to navigate if old ones didn’t naturally fall out and grow back. Porcupine quills are very interesting, so let’s take a look at …
Porcupines are best known for the long, sharp quills they use for defense against predators. Up to 30,000 of these hollow-point weapons cover the North American porcupine. While they can’t shoot their quills, they do have some superpowers: porcupines can swim, sing, dance, and yes, even climb trees! What is a porcupine? Odds are you …
There are some things you might not know about wolves. For example, did you know that they sometimes like to swim? They also like to play and can be very friendly animals. Learning more about wolves can be fun and interesting, so if you get a chance, make sure to check out some of the …
The smallest animal living in the Amazon Rainforest is a small canopy jumping monkey known as the pygmy marmoset. Also known as the dwarf monkey, thumb monkey, or pocket monkey, this tiny creature can move up to 12 miles per hour and be highly aggressive. However, the pygmy marmoset’s appearance makes it seem cute. The …
What animals are edible in the Amazon rainforest depends on how hungry you are and your situation. If you survived a plane crash and had little chance of being rescued, you might be willing to eat things that you would not if you were adventure hiking for a weekend. There is also a difference between …
Introduction What images come to mind when you think of a tropical rainforest? Do you imagine a dense, green forest with tall trees, vines, and flowers? Or do you picture a hot, humid jungle teeming with insects and dangerous animals? Maybe you envision both. Tropical rainforests are located near the Earth’s equator. They are home …
The words possum and opossum are used interchangeably but they refer to different animals. Scientists and most dictionaries say an opossum is the Virginia opossum or any of those that live in North or South America. The possum is a very similar animal that lives in Australia and New Guinea. It is not really that …
Rats are one of the most controversial animals in the world. While some people think of them as adorable pets, others see them as nothing more than destructive vermin. But no matter your stance on rats, there’s no denying that they’re pretty exciting creatures. Did you know that rats have poor eyesight, but they make up …
In addition to fishers, porcupine quills have been detected in the bodies of wolves, bears, lynxes, foxes, bobcats, cougars, coyotes, and even great horned owls. Predators kill porcupines by biting or flipping them over, exposing the weak bottom, and then devouring the defenseless head and neck. However, the fisher is its most successful predator. What …
Porcupines have a long lifespan. They can live between 10 and 15 years out in the wild, while they can live up to 20 years when in captivity. Some have been known to live up to three decades. The funny or maybe not so funny thing is that these long-lived rodents can die from simple …
As homeowners, we sometimes get critters under our houses, sheds, porches, or decks. At times, wildlife like possums tend to set up camps where they find food and safety. You might wake up one day to your trash scattered and little paw prints in the dirt surrounding the trash cans. You may even find, to …