Skunks are notorious for their pungent smell that comes from the oil they spray when they feel threatened. You may be smelling that odor more than usual in the coming months because skunk mating season is almost here. Skunks do not hibernate like many other animals during the winter, but they are less active than…
Two new studies have found that squirrels and beavers contribute more to climate change than previously thought. Arctic ground squirrels melt permafrost when they burrow. Permafrost preserves dead animals and vegetation underground for hundreds of years. The squirrels’ feces also fertilize the soil, which allows microbes to thrive. These microbes decompose dead plants and animals,…