They are the smallest North American bear. They are an excellent climber, a good runner, and a powerful swimmer. Cubs are born in the winter and nestle in their mother's fur for warmth and to nurse. Madagascar tenrecs are found on the island of Madagascar in the dry sandy regions. At Busch Gardens Williamsburg, tenrecs are fed a combination of mealworms, feline diet, dog food, grapes and vitamins.
Tenrecs are useful to humans because they consume large amounts of insects and small invertebrates.
A tenrec's coat is made up of thick stiff hairs that look very much like spines or quills. Its belly is covered with short soft hair. Tenrecs are nocturnal and quite shy. They spend their time foraging for insects and vegetation or sleeping in an underground burrow. When scared, tenrecs curl up in a ball with their spines erect to protect them from predators.