8 Strange Animals You Didn't Know Lived in the United States

Painted Bunting

Painted Buntings live along the Gulf Coast and in North Carolina and northern Florida. Only men are rainbow-colored; females and immature males are green.

Nutria

Nutria, or coypu, were imported to the U.S. and live in Louisiana, Florida, Texas, and Oregon. Semi-aquatic rodents damage ditches and levees.

Coatimundi

Southwest U.S. coatimundis are raccoon-related. Omnivores, they devour fruits, vegetables, small animals, frogs, lizards, birds, and eggs.

Crested Caracara

Southern Texas, Arizona, and Florida are home to the beautiful Crested Caracara falcon. They hunt and scavenge tiny animals as aggressive birds of prey.

Gila Monster

Slow-moving, poisonous Gila Monsters live in the southwestern U.S. Their orange and black appearance indicates that they eat small animals.

Freshwater Jellyfish

Rare freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii was found in Wisconsin. Their small stingers are harmless to people, and they are best seen in late summer calm, shallow waters.

Black Spiny Tailed Iguana

Central American Black Spiny Tailed Iguanas are common in Florida, where control attempts are underway. They are edible but must be cooked to avoid salmonella.

Jaguars

Jaguars are more frequent in Central and South America but have been seen in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. Past records show their presence in several U.S. states.

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