Why do many animals have whiskers? — James of Bentonville, AR

Dear James,

Whiskers are coarse hairs embedded in the skin of an animal's face. When they brush against something (like tall grass, or a wall), whiskers cause nerves in the skin where they are attached to send a message to the animal's brain. This tells the animal that it has touched something.

Whiskers are especially useful in dark places, or at night when it is more difficult for the animal to see. Maybe animals find their way in dark places by feeling around with their whiskers. Like our eyelashes, some whiskers tell an animal when to close its eyes for protection. Whiskers are another example of God's wise design in nature.