Identify the small mammal described as an omnivore primarily active at night and known to carry rabies.

Identify the small mammal described as an omnivore primarily active at night and known to carry rabies.

• A. Racoon
• B. Bat
• C. Hippopotamus
• D. Elephant

Answer: (A)

Raccoons fit the description because they are opportunistic omnivores, mostly active at night, and are well-known rabies carriers. They eat a mix of foods—fruits, nuts, eggs, small animals, and even human leftovers—matching the omnivore idea. Being nocturnal, they forage after dark, which aligns with the “primarily active at night” part. Rabies is commonly associated with raccoons in wildlife and pest-control contexts, making them a classic example of a small mammal to watch for disease risk. Bats can also be nocturnal and carry rabies, but many bats are insectivores or fruit-eaters rather than true omnivores, so they don’t fit the omnivore descriptor as neatly. Hippopotamuses and elephants are large, not small mammals, and aren’t typically described as omnivores or primary rabies carriers in this context.

Raccoons fit the description because they are opportunistic omnivores, mostly active at night, and are well-known rabies carriers. They eat a mix of foods—fruits, nuts, eggs, small animals, and even human leftovers—matching the omnivore idea. Being nocturnal, they forage after dark, which aligns with the “primarily active at night” part. Rabies is commonly associated with raccoons in wildlife and pest-control contexts, making them a classic example of a small mammal to watch for disease risk.

Bats can also be nocturnal and carry rabies, but many bats are insectivores or fruit-eaters rather than true omnivores, so they don’t fit the omnivore descriptor as neatly. Hippopotamuses and elephants are large, not small mammals, and aren’t typically described as omnivores or primary rabies carriers in this context.