Opossums In The Winter (Do They Hibernate?)

Opossums originated from Central and South America and made their way to the United States some 800,000 years ago. With their thin coats and hairless ears, tails, and feet, the little marsupials are much more suited to their original hotter environments, not snowy winters! Despite that, the species has been found more and more frequently …

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Bobcats And Jumping (Leaping, Pouncing & More)

The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a wild cat found in North America, from southern Canada to northern Mexico. The species’ “bob” isn’t referring to its haircut – it refers to its short and stubby tail that looks cut or “bobbed” at the end and also to its bobbing gait. Additionally, because of its brown to …

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Red Wolf Dens (What, Where, How, and Why!)

Red wolves are native to the southeastern United States. They are recognizable by their reddish, tawny, majestic coats and by their black-tipped floofy tails.  When red wolf pups are born, they are blind and utterly helpless. To keep them safe and give them the time to grow bigger and stronger, they are kept in dens …

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Opossum Poop (What Does It Look And Smell Like?)

There are several species of opossums in the Americas, but the United States and Canada are home only to the Virginia opossum (scientific name Didelphis virginiana), sometimes called the North American Opossum.  Confusingly, they are commonly referred to as “possums,” which also happens to be the name of a completely different animal that lives in …

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Where Can Hedgehogs Be Found? (Wild and Domesticated!) 

Hedgehogs, along with moonrats, shrews, and moles, belong to the Erinaceidae family. They are mammals and not rodents. Also, despite their similarities in appearance, hedgehogs are not closely related to porcupines. The species are soft and floofy when relaxed, but they raise their 3,000-5,000 quills into a prickly position once threatened. What countries are they …

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The American Badger’s Habitat (How Do Badgers Live?)

The American Badger has the scientific name Taxidea taxus, with species code “TATA.” It is a member of the Mustelidae family, together with weasels, otters, ferrets, minks, and wolverines. What kind of habitats provide the American badger with all of their needs and make them feel comfortable? – and which habitats would they instead say, …

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The American Badger’s Hunting Behavior (How and What They Get Food)

Badgers are short-legged mammals from the Mustelidae family, cousins to otters, weasels, ferrets, martens, minks, and a few more furry friends. They prefer to live in open areas such as meadows, fallow fields, and open forests. Did you know that there are actually 11 different species of badgers?  In this article, Floofmania zones in on …

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Coyote Size: The Fascinating Factors that Affect a Coyote’s Growth and Development

Slender looking coyote standing on a dirt road.

Coyotes are medium-sized canines found all over the US. While they generally grow between 20-45 pounds, each individual’s size varies widely, depending on gender and social status. But how significant are the differences between the male and female coyotes, and how does social status affect how big they are? Floofmania gets into it! How Big …

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How To Repel Coyotes (Are They Pests?)

Coyotes look like big, cute, fluffy dogs but don’t be fooled! They are fierce hunters who are not picky eaters. This makes them a source of constant annoyance and fear for families with small children and pets living near or near the forest.  Thankfully, there are simple ways to repel coyotes. But why do coyotes …

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Hedgehogs and Hibernation (Everything About The Snooze!)

What do hedgehogs, bears, wood frogs, skunks, and bumblebees have in common? They all hibernate! Hedgehogs can be found worldwide, but those that live in colder regions respond to the change in temperature by hibernating. How do you know if a hedgehog is hibernating, how long they hibernate for, and if they wake up to …

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