Water Mongoose

These animals are in 'least concern' territory regarding their conservation status, although the populations are secluded in areas such as rivers, marshes, dams, lakes, or other water sources. Their populations are decreasing due to irresponsible or illegal hunting and the expansion of small settlements, which inevitably means sharing their home with the laundry and sewerage of an African community. Their meat is sold at bush meat markets, especially in countries like Nigeria. Still, their healthy populations in many protected areas throughout the continent keep their status where it is and help to secure their presence and biodiversity as a species.

The name of this peculiar creature most definitely points out its preferred habitat. They favor adjacent or close to water sources where vegetation, like reeds and water plants, is the main cover form. Here, ecosystems with fish, amphibians, aquatic birds, and invertebrates provide sufficient prey. Many swamps and marshes in Sub-Saharan Africa fit this bill, although they are especially common in areas of higher rainfall, tropical or sub-tropical climates.

They are solitary and live alone or with their young. Burrows, where they live, are near water sources and are vigorously defended. They regularly spread their fowl and strong-smelling scent. The most common ways include rubbing their cheeks on nearby objects or secreting a potent substance from their anal glands for the same purpose.

Water mongooses spend most of their days foraging for food. They do this by swimming into deeper water and attempting to catch fish with their strong and sharp claws or patrolling the muddy river banks and reed thickets for other delicacies. When two mongooses fight, they make very loud growling and barking noises of different pitches to try and intimidate the other with their ferocity and successfully defend whatever they were fighting over.

Very little detail exists about the courtship and reproduction of water mongooses. Nests are built by mothers, preferably near a water source, prior to the birth of their offspring using reeds, grasses, and sticks to cushion and protect their fragile bodies in the early days of their lives. The size of a mother's litter ranges from 1 to 3, and she can give birth and raise up to 2 litters annually.

Water Mongooses are not as cute, floppy, and fluffy as they seem when they are attacked or threatened in any way. They are fierce and rarely allow any animal in their territory, defending themselves with a firm bite, sharp claws, and a great fighting spirit. Dogs sometimes attack mongooses and are dragged into the water. It is a tactic these animals use to overcome predators. If this fails, they roll into a ball and secrete every scent possible.