Here are the weirdest animals you can find in this country!
The United States is the home of some of the most incredible wildlife on this planet. This is not surprising considering how big this place is and how many ecosystems it hosts. Deserts, forests, mountains, and coastlines; you can find all of them here, and each has something special to offer.
Today, we don’t want to talk about the bears, deer, and eagles. This article is about those animals that stand out. It’s time to find out more about the weirdest animals you can find in this country.
These critters are so bizarre that you won’t believe they are living in America. You might think that they are some exotic animals based on their looks, but this is not the case. They live here with us, and it’s a good thing to know more about them.
Here are the weirdest animals that live in the US. You might even find one lurking in your own backyard!
Jaguarundi
This is a species of wildcat that has this name because it’s like a jaguar but smaller. It is still important that it is still bigger than a house cat. Imagine it like a medium-sized jaguar. They are native to South America, Central America, and Mexico, but they used to be found at the southern tip of Texas. This is why they are on this list of the weirdest animals in America.
According to the latest reports, the Jaguarundi is now extinct, and the last sighting was in Texas in the year 1986. But despite this, people from Texas, Florida, and southern Alabama are still reporting sightings. They are unconfirmed by any official authority, but this can still be true. It is speculated that these jaguarundis were pets in the past and that they were illegally released and somehow managed to survive in the wild.
Hellbender
If you look at this critter, you can easily say that it is by far one of the weirdest animals that exist on this entire planet. They look so peculiar, and most of us will probably be scared to death if we encounter one.
This is actually a giant salamander species, and they can reach up to 29 inches in length! Yeah, we know this is a lot. Hopefully, you will not encounter them in the whole country. The hellbender lives in water, so you will find them in the rivers located in the eastern and central U.S.
At this point, this is an endangered species because their perfect habitat, which is able to sustain their lives, is kind of rare. The hellbender needs crystal-clear water, and this is a rarity right now with all the pollution. Also, let’s not forget that they love large, flat rocks to lie and nest on.
These animals can live up to 35 years, but the average is somewhere around 12 to 15 years. If you are wondering what the origins of its name are, well, the first people who saw a hellbender described it as looking like a creature that comes straight from Hell.
Alligator snapping turtle
This is a fact that you were probably not aware of, but America is the home of the biggest freshwater turtle to ever exist. The alligator snapping turtle can weigh up to 200 pounds and measure 31 inches in length! Yeah, this is huge, and this is why this is one of the weirdest animals in the US.
Their trademark features are the hooked beaks and those strong jaws that can break bones if you are not careful. Then there is also the worm-like tongue. This also has a significant role in hunting fish. The prey enters the strong jaw and then is unable to escape, making the attack a successful one.
The alligator snapping turtle lives in freshwater, such as lakes and rivers, and because of this, you can find them in the Mississippi River Watershed. Most sightings are from the southeast region of the country, but there are also people who reported seeing them in Iowa.
They are an endangered species, and this is why there are many regulations that forbid hunting or trapping them. One interesting thing about these creatures is that algae grow on their shell, and this gives them an advantage. They are able to easily blend with the surroundings when they dive deep at the bottom of the rivers and lakes.
This is also what makes them dangerous. You are not able to see them, and if you step on them, they will bite. And that powerful bite can easily break human bones.
Ringtail
Ok, ok, at least this one looks incredibly cute even though it is among the weirdest animals in the US. If you look at it, this critter looks like a ring-tailed lemur. But what you need to know is that they are not lemurs or cats. They are more closely related to raccoons.
Generally, you can find the ringtail in the more arid regions of the country, in the Southwest, but people also see them in Colorado. They are the state mammal of Arizona! Isn’t that cool?
Most of the time, you will never casually spot ringtails because, just like raccoons, they are nocturnal animals that prefer to stay hidden during the day. Their tail is so long that it is kind of the same length as their bodies. Also, it has around 14 to 16 rings.
They are a last concern species, and as a result, they are trapped for their fur legally in the whole country. Sometimes people report that these animals are real nuisances because, in the same fashion as their raccoon cousins, they enter buildings and backyards searching in trash cans and dumpsters.
Star-nosed mole
Their appearance makes them one of the weirdest animals in the US, but they are so common that most of us are already accustomed to them. You can find them literally everywhere, but they are more common in the Eastern US.
These moles prefer wetlands because it is easier for them to dig in wet ground and also because there is more food for them in such an environment. They like to eat mollusks, insects, and worms. You can find star-nosed moles from the Eastern US up to Canada.
The trait that makes them look weird is the eleven “tentacles” that surround their nose. These tentacles are retractable and also covered in hairs. Their nose is very important because they use it to find prey. Their poor eyesight doesn’t allow them to navigate the underground, so their nose is the strongest sense they have.
These creatures are good swimmers and have been found to swim beneath ice during the winter months. They dwell in near-total darkness but are active all year.
Weird or not, animals are wiser than we think, and they can teach us some lessons that could change how we humans view the world. If we would follow in their steps, we can become better, and if you want to learn more about this, you should check out this book: Wild Rituals: 10 Lessons Animals Can Teach Us About Connection, Community, and Ourselves
If you liked this article, you should also read: 10 Wild Animals That Are Surprisingly Friendly
