TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The Tallahassee Museum has welcomed two unusual and fascinating guest animals. <\/p>\n
Binturongs are rare, Southeast Asian mammals. Despite their appearance, they are neither bears nor cats and they\u2019re capturing visitors\u2019 curiosity.<\/p>\n
Bella and Bentley are the newest guests at the Tallahassee Museum, visiting from South Carolina, until June.<\/p>\n
Binturongs are known as bearcats because of their appearance and they are the largest mammals that use their tails almost like a fifth limb.<\/p>\n
Native to the rainforests of Southeast Asia, binturongs spend much of their time high in the canopy. Their long, flexible tails help them navigate branches, and their curious, gentle nature makes them perfect ambassadors for wildlife education.<\/p>\n
A fun fact about binturongs is they smell like hot buttered popcorn due to a chemical compound in their urine and scent gland secretions the same molecule that gives cooked popcorn its aroma.<\/p>\n
Visitors can meet Bella and Bentley during regular museum hours <\/a>through June. Their arrival highlights the museum\u2019s mission to connect people with wildlife from around the world and inspire conservation.<\/p>\n To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Nextdoor<\/a> <\/a>and X<\/a> (Twitter<\/a>).<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here<\/a>. Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 WCTV. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n