Carnivores

You'd like to trap the skunk in your backyard, without getting sprayed. Find out here how to trap a skunk without getting sprayed.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

Most jackals have the same nuclear family as the one portrayed in "Leave it to Beaver" -- a father, a mother and the kids. So do Mama and Papa jackal call a babysitter when they want date night?

By Cristen Conger

If you've been sprayed by a skunk, you probably ended up in a bathtub filled with tomato juice. But is there any truth to this treatment, or should we debunk the skunk?

By Jennifer Horton

If the animal world were school, otters would be those kids who never leave the playground. Always begging for five more minutes of recess, otters take playtime very seriously.

By Cristen Conger

If you come across a cougar, you might scream in fear. So if this predator could easily devour you, why might it harmonize your screech with its own tone-deaf shriek?

By Cristen Conger

With powerful jaws, massive paws and piercing claws, the leopard is built for hunting. But how can this cat possibly take down animals three times its size?

By Cristen Conger

When cats go swimming, is it still considered doggy paddling? Tigers might not be invited to your next pool party, but they sure do love taking a dip.

By Cristen Conger

Loners might seem intriguing, but they lead dangerous lives -- a least those in the wolf world do. Lone wolves are outsiders, relying only on themselves to survive without a pack.

By Cristen Conger

Plagued by negative images and slanderous tales, wolves could use the help of a good publicist. Will positive news like wolves help strengthen the ecosystem override age-old fears and misconceptions?

By Cristen Conger

What's a full moon without the cry of a wolf echoing in the background? Are wolves really howling at the moon or just talking among themselves?

By Cristen Conger

Wolves are wild predators and could kill your beloved Fido for a tasty meal. But will these animals come after you, or do they prefer a drama-free neighborhood?

By Cristen Conger

Contrary to popular belief, the leaders of a wolf pack aren't always hyper-aggressive social climbers. The truth is more nuanced, and more interesting.

By Cristen Conger & Mark Mancini

Wolves may be a close relative of man's best friend, but we wouldn't recommend trying to befriend these wild canines. Check out this wolf image gallery to learn all about different wolf species and their habits.

By Marie Bobel

This big cat image gallery shows you a wide variety of these carnivorous felines. From the well known tiger and lion to the lesser known serval and margay, learn about these big cats and their relatives.

By Marie Bobel

The king of the jungle has been known to salivate at the sight of a tasty human. But are these stories of lions wreaking havoc on people in Africa true?

By Cristen Conger

Any animal that can go from zero to 40 mph in three strides must have a very specialized body. Why can cheetahs run so fast, and how does their ability make them vulnerable?

By Julia Layton

She's a vicious social climber, willing to do anything to get to the top. In her quest to be queen, she's snubbed girls and stolen their men. Oh, yes -- and she's a meerkat.

By Josh Clark

When it comes to lending a helping paw, meerkats are quite altruistic. Strangely, they evolved from the mongoose -- a real loner. What gives?

By Josh Clark

Mealtime in the Kalahari Desert isn't exactly an all-you-can-eat buffet. Meerkats eat what they can get -- even poisonous scorpions. Why doesn't the venom hurt them?

By Josh Clark

From sonnets to Skype, humans have been perfecting communication for centuries. Meerkats have their own ways of pointing out danger, food and even happiness.

By Josh Clark

You're probably familiar with celebrity meerkats like the Whiskers clan and Timon. But do you know anything else about this creature from the Kalahari?

By Maria Trimarchi

The bobcat and lynx may not be much larger than the house cat lounging on your couch, but these felines rely on specific adaptations to survive in the wild.

By Jennifer Horton

As much as human beings have encroached on wildlife over recent decades, there are still several species of big cats living wild in the U.S. today.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky