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30 Animals That People Are Scared Of Or Don’t Like When They Really Shouldn’t, As Shared In This Online Thread
What’s your favorite animal? Are you a dog person because you’ve had them as pets since you were a child and you can’t imagine coming home without being able to cuddle a big fur baby? Or do you prefer turtles with their cute little faces reminiscent of old men and their beautiful shells? There’s an infinite number of animals out there to choose from (okay maybe not infinite, but there are millions!), but for some reason, we humans tend to be drawn to certain creatures more so than others. Why we usually prefer fluffy, soft and squishy creatures to anything that has venom, fangs or talons, I’m not quite sure. But everyone in the animal kingdom serves a unique purpose, and each creature deserves to be celebrated.
One curious reddit user recently asked others to share what animals have bad reputations that they don’t deserve, and hundreds of commenters came out in defense of these awesome creatures. We’ve gathered some of the best responses down below, featuring misunderstood animals who get their fair share of bad publicity, so be sure to upvote the answers that make you rethink your stance on these creatures. Keep reading to also find an interview with Ali of the Cool Facts About Animals podcast. Then let us know in the comments what your favorite infamous animal is, and if you’re looking for another Bored Panda article celebrating animals who deserve better, we recommend you check out this story next.
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#1
Pigs. Any farm animal, but pigs and cows don’t deserve being mocked and tortured. Pigs are highly intelligent animals, some outperforming 3 year old toddlers. “Pig” is used as an insult to men/ cops, but it’s a really gross comparison because they’re smart, sweet, and just wanna decorate their little area with flowers. Be nice to all animals please and at least learn about who you’re eating.
Michelle C 3 years ago
This is why I don't use animals as insult...men aren't dogs cause dogs are loyal
Tine 3 years ago
It makes me wanna cry knowing how many of them are born just to end up on people's tables. This doesn't only apply to pigs but all animals that we consider food. Just thinking about how much all these animals suffer just so people have their meat makes me wanna cry out loud, punch something, want to open people's eyes to their suffering so badly. 😢
Elaine Roberts 3 years ago
You’re gonna have to get over it or spend your whole life angry and crying.
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Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 3 years ago
Pigs are some of the sweetest and most intelligent creatures. Growing up near so many farms when I was younger, I always wanted a pet pot-belly pig.
Pirates of Zen Pants 3 years ago
Thank you, but I am not eating them. My granddad read "Charlotte's Web" to me when I was in kindergarten. Team Wilbur here.
Nope 3 years ago
Our continuing mistreatment of animals we will eventually eat remains a shameful practice, no doubt about it. I don't push my beliefs on anyone, but I won't eat anything I have a reasonable doubt might be sentient (octopi, squid, pork among others). If I saw a rational argument for cows being sentient, they too would be on my list.
Thatkamloopsguy 3 years ago
I once ran a 1200 sow farrowing barn and I can tell you, never underestimate the intelligence of a pig.
To gain some insight from an animal expert, we reached out to Ali of the Cool Facts About Animals podcast. First, we wanted to know what inspired her to start a podcast sharing knowledge about animals. "We were inspired to do this podcast because when we started it in 2017, there weren't any in-depth podcasts about animals for kids," Ali told Bored Panda. "We decided to fill that need with our podcast. What we love most about animals is that they're all different. It's really cool to see how different animals have adapted so well to so many different environments."
We also asked Ali why she thinks some animals have been given bad reputations. "Some animals get a bad reputation through stories. Like Teddy Roosevelt spread the story that piranhas eat people alive (even though they don't)," she explained. "Or there's a story that vampire bats will attack humans for their blood (not true). There are some animals that are pretty annoying - like mosquitos. But even mosquitos have good qualities about them. Like, they are excellent pollinators. And really, they're just trying to feed their babies!"
RELATED:
#2
Honey bees. People are terrified but the last thing a honeybee wants to do is sting you. They just want to work. They are gentle creatures with personality and moods.
DennyS (denzoren) 3 years ago
Bees are so awesome! If only people took a moment to observe the little chonk going about his day, they'll think differently. Where I live may people confuse honey bees with the much more aggressive Africanized Bees that have been introduced to our country.
zak 3 years ago
Wasps can be pretty cool, as long as you don't mess with their nest. There's a few small nests on my balcony (prob about 20-30 wasps right now)and I smoke weed with them every day. Haven't been stung yet, and it's been like 5 or 6 years so far 😁👍
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Kenny Kulbiski 3 years ago
Always happy to see bee's in my garden. You can definitely tell the difference between a garden with bee's and without.
UpQuarkDownQuark 3 years ago
I love bees. I love standing next to a large lavender plant in the spring and summer, and being surrounded by the flurry of fuzzy little activity. You can get very close to them, even gently bring the stem of the flower they’re pollinating closer to you to see them, and they’ll just merrily go about their business. And look into mason bees. These are solitary bees that you can make little homes for. They essentially never sting, they’re tiny, and they’re so much more efficient pollinators than honeybees.
L.a. Williams 3 years ago
I have known a couple of people allergic to bee stings. I get you don't want to get stung but you don't have to kill them. Most of the time you washed with something the bee is trying to get a meal from. I'm the person who shoos them away. In fact only bee I have seen killed was when my son was 2 and he picked it up.
We also asked Ali what her favorite misunderstood animal is. "Our favorite misunderstood animal is the crow. People may just think of crows as pesky, loud birds that eat your food. But they're actually incredibly smart. Some crows have learned to use traffic lights. They will put down a hard nut to crack nut in the road during a red light, fly out of the way on the green, and then come back to get their cracked nut on the red light again. Some species of crows can also use and make their own tools."
"If you dig down deep enough, any animal has something to offer," Ali shared. "They're all part of our food chains and may help our ecosystem in ways we really don't understand yet."
If you or your little ones would like to learn more animal facts from Ali, be sure to check out the Cool Facts About Animals podcast right here.
#3
Wolves! They help regulate buffalo, eagle, deer, and other animal’s populations. People see them as vicious, dangerous, and rabid animals. It really sucks, people are killing them too! There’s only roughly 94 red wolves left in the Yellowstone National Park (located in the USA), it really sucks. Wolves are now on the highly endangered animals list. Especially since people are luring wolves out of Yellowstone to trap and kill them. Wolves deserve more love. People are really sick.
MissPrideGirl 3 years ago
I agree, wolves have done a huge part in regulating the population and they don’t deserve the hate that they get.
L.a. Williams 3 years ago
I don't think an animal should be killed because of their natural behavior.
Chrissie Anit 3 years ago
I once watched a documentary about the way wolves changed the landscape and flow of rivers of a national park (for the better of course) - just by being there and regulating wildlife. It was amazing.
keighterz 3 years ago
Do you remember what the name of this documentary was?? Sounds really good.
Load More Replies... tara 3 years ago
Coyotes have the same bad rap where I live.....I call them "Gods Dogs" and the bobcats are "Gods cats" really they aren't that different from our beloved pets.
Katy McMouse 3 years ago
Thank you, I love this. That's a beautiful way of appreciating them!
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btaglln 3 years ago
We are finally getting wolves back in my country (Belgium), I hope it will stop a little boars from destroying garden and fields
Minath 3 years ago
If you take the top predators out of the food chain/ecosystem it won't be long before it collapses.
Felice Coles 3 years ago
Yes! Better to be scared of the humans who lure wolves out of their territory to slaughter them... Those people are really evil.
Daniel Yamada 3 years ago
Wolves are the only pure dog breed. All other dog breeds are essentially deformed wolves.
There might only be a handful of animals that you personally love or see the value in. Dogs and cats because they’re great pets, chickens because you can’t go a morning without making scrambled eggs, bees because you love to put honey in your tea, horses because you enjoy riding them when you’re out in the country and birds because someone needs to eat those crumbs you drop while scarfing down a croissant on the way to work. But even though we don’t encounter most of the animals on earth on a daily basis, or ever for that matter, they still play vital roles in maintaining the ecosystem.
We tend to fear or hate creatures that we don’t understand or only know for their worst moments, like attacking humans and spreading diseases, but imagine what most creatures think about us. We slaughter animals for food, accidentally run them over with our cars frequently, cause noise and light pollution, cause deforestation, and pollute the air through our exploitation of resources. We must be terrifying, so maybe we should keep that in mind before assigning a bad reputation to rattlesnakes or bats.
#4
Black cats. They are even more adorable than the other cats and I don't understand why they have become the most known symbol of bad luck.
Elizabeth Elliot 3 years ago
They are considered lucky in the UK, or used to be before the US superstition took over; 'Good Luck' cards showing them used to be really common!
Helen Waight 3 years ago
Still considered lucky round my area of the UK - although that could be my black cat brainwashing me :p
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Lakota Wolf 3 years ago
I love my house panther, Kohl! I admit that when I was younger, I probably wouldn't have adopted a black cat from the shelter (I'm partial to tabbies and tuxedoes, and had this misconception that black cats are impossible to photograph.) Then, 6 years ago, a black kitten walked into the open back door of the office of my family's business. She's been the love of my life since. And she looks GORGEOUS in photos XD
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Rayvyn 3 years ago
They used to be considered lucky, often depicted as the preferred pet of witches for the reason of the witch wanting luck. the 'black cat crossing your path is bad luck' comes from when they walk away from you, they take the good luck with them.
athornedrose 3 years ago
my black cat is my best friend and super affectionate. i was thrilled to get him from the shelter, but devastated to learn that he ended up there because he'd been abused in multiple homes and neglected at the shelter for being "bad luck". he's the best luck ever, and people who've mistreated him are the worst.
Persephone hates Pomegranate 3 years ago
There is a neighbourhood cat that lives on my street named Felix who is a black cat. I have trained him to follow me when I call him and I reward him with pets. He also comes to my house for food. He's a very good boy.
Zombiedoll 3 years ago
I have 2 mini black panthers in my house and they are the sweetest furbabies ever!!
UpQuarkDownQuark 3 years ago
The animal love of my life was a black cat. Sweetest, most loving cat I’ve cat I’ve ever met. I miss you, Milo!
#5
Possums. They are very disease resistant. They are unlikely to carry rabies, because their body temperature is too low for the rabies virus to thrive.
Potato 3 years ago
Possum = Australia and surrounding areas, Opossum = Americas. Differences include tails, size, color, Order.
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Ranger Kanootsen 3 years ago
Thats not a possum, that's an opossum. Possums look like this! common-bru...f90ee8.jpg 
Chucky Cheezburger 3 years ago (edited)
Your right. The one pictured above is a Virginia Opposum. They are the ones that eat lots of ticks and have a hard time catching rabies. I don't know if the other possums have the same traits. But in the U.S., we don't pronounce the O, so they name sounds the same.
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Lakota Wolf 3 years ago
I love them! When I was a kid, my mom used to kill them if they ever got into our garage. (And in a HORRIBLE way, too. My mother is a terrible person.) Now whenever I see a possum in the garage/my backyard, etc., I leave it a path to escape and leave it be :D They're so cute!
Load More Replies... Chucky Cheezburger 3 years ago
Yes, possums are cute and eat a metric eff-load of ticks. They are good critters to have around.
Shelby Jackson 3 years ago
My dad found a baby possum abandoned at his work. When he figured out she was abandoned he brought her home and hand raised her. She loved him. When she got big enough he released her into their woods. She lived there until her passing. She had several babies and would bring them to meet my dad. Her name was Awesome Possum.
BluEyedSeoulite 3 years ago
My sister had a possum move in under her front porch. Her rat/mouse problem immediately stopped. Great neighbors!
#6
Greyhounds.
People breed them and keep them in concrete cages and abuse them and the only interactions they get is being made to chase a fluffy thing to activate their prey drive to win their owners money.
And people wonder why they're nervous dogs who chase anything resembling a bunny, including cats and small dogs.
Source: i fostered rescued racing dogs
Pirates of Zen Pants 3 years ago
In my state, there was a referendum on the ballot to shut down greyhound racing 14 years ago. It was overwhelmingly successful. People just couldn't accept the cruelty involved.
Gabby Ghoul 3 years ago
I think we are in the same state! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_Greyhound_Protection_Act
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Katie Lutesinger 3 years ago
I once encountered someone who had two greyhounds, and this person informed me that "greyhounds are very aloof! They don't just go up to people". Guess who came up to me half a second later to ask for pats?
Cynthia Leduc 3 years ago
My greyhound is so well behaved and calm. He clearly had a really good education and lot of time with other. It's my second and I know tons of them. I adopted a puppy last year and it's so hard to train them to be as good as my greyhound. My greyhound really had all his needs meet at the farm. He was socialized a lot with dog, humain, noises... Greyhound are the best !
Aunt Riarch 3 years ago
The pictures in the betting shops always show racing greyhounds wearing muzzles with their mouths open (because they are running). It does give the wrong impression
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KING ILLEGAL FOREST 3 years ago
My boss has always had a greyhound, all of them ex-racers from a local rescue. Lincoln is his current grey, and he comes to work every day. Makes my days at work much more pleasant.
And while the average person may not know very much about the unique job of every creature in the animal kingdom, we do know that we need biodiversity. According to Greenpeace, there are three facets of biodiversity: ecosystem diversity, species diversity and genetic diversity. It is necessary that the planet maintains a high level of biodiversity to ensure that it is resilient to natural disasters and disturbances. Greenpeace likens the relationship between all plants and animals on earth to a “safety net” that guarantees our survival and welfare.
“When there’s balance, all these things work together to clean our water, purify our air, maintain our soil, regulate the climate, stop disease outbreaks, recycle nutrients and provide us with food,” Greenpeace explains. “But whenever a species disappears, it’s like a thread in the web is cut, leaving holes in the planet’s safety net and shifting the finely balanced systems.” Basically, when any species disappears, it creates a domino effect that can be detrimental to the whole ecosystem, so it's crucial that we value all creatures, despite how frightening or poisonous they may be.
#7
Foxes. Even in children's fairy tales, we were shown that foxes are cunning and greedy. However, in life they are like dogs with the habits of a cat and make cute sounds. Although I may be wrong
Khara Mei 3 years ago
Please understand that the reason farmers hate foxes is that they kill for fun. They will march into a chicken coop, slaughter every chicken, and not eat any of them. They will happily carry off a single lamb from a pile they have just made of dead ones. Foxes in a rural area will take out unguarded livestock.
Lara Verne 3 years ago
I understand that it sucks, have all chickens killed, but foxes don't kill for fun. It's true that they sometimes kill more animals they could eat, but it's because they intent to return for it later. Foxes often do it when they have kits.
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Helen Waight 3 years ago
We regularly have foxes sleeping in our garden during the day and this year we saw a whole family with the cubs playing together then having a nap. They’re so much like cats in how they act and it’s fascinating.
Girts Frīdbergs 3 years ago
I agree, where we live, we have to pretty much share the furthest corner of territory with foxes. They been living there for 6-7 years now. We give them as little food as possible (mainly chicken bones) with hopes they will be patroling our garden, catching pests
Load More Replies... Pirates of Zen Pants 3 years ago
A few years ago, I went to visit a friend in London, and they have foxes there. One night, we were sipping cocktails at a pub that looked out over a garden, and I heard a sound like somebody was being murdered. My friend said it was foxes. I asked if they were fighting or dating. My friend took a big swallow of Pimm's Cup and said, "With foxes, it's hard to tell."
tara 3 years ago
Sometimes they scream like a lady having her fingernails torn off! But I think they are pretty cute, too.
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 3 years ago
They do make a terrifying screaming vocalization when they are mating. It reminds me of the horrifying Black Riders from the Lord of the Rings movies. Oddly enough, adorable hedgehogs also scream while mating...
Load More Replies... DennyS (denzoren) 3 years ago
Follow SaveAFox on Youtube and you'll be amazed at how much like cats and dogs they really are.
L.a. Williams 3 years ago
I don't get people who think that little fox could do more than a small bite or scratch. Leave them alone. They don't want to fight someone
Ranger Kanootsen 3 years ago
But they do want to fight our pets and livestock!
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Jen Ashworth 3 years ago
When a fox is confronted with dozens of confined birds sensory overload takes over and it starts killing them all as the birds flap about and panic as they have no means of escape. The fox also panics and it's instinct to kill one animal for food goes into overdrive and it ends up killing more than one. But of course it seems to be okay for humans to kill millions of animals for food or fun.
tara 3 years ago
*claps* You took the words right outta my.....um...keyboard I guess. :)
Load More Replies... Thatkamloopsguy 3 years ago
If you really want to be scared of things that are cunning and greedy, Fear humans, they are the worst of any animal.
#8
Ravens people think they're evil just because sometimes they're scavengers, and they were known to pick at bodies when public executions were still a thing, and because of that, they're forever the symbol of death and many people think they're evil.
Katie Lutesinger 3 years ago
In some cultures they're thought to be special guardians who show the dead to the afterlife precisely *because* they show up around dead people (or, in Ancient Egypt, it was the jackal in that role for the same reason).
PixieVonBehr 3 years ago
We like Ravens in London as "if the Tower of London ravens are lost or fly away, the Crown will fall and Britain with it."
Mark Fuller 3 years ago
They have the problem solving skills of a 7 year old, so brighter than most!
thEBOrdeSTpaNDA 3 years ago
OOOOOOOOOOH there's a really cool rhyme/superstition about ravens! One for sorrow, two for joy. Three for a girl, four for a boy. Fve for silver, six for gold. Seven for a secret never told.
Deborah Harris 3 years ago
That's Magpies, part of the Raven family too :) x
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Victoria Anderson 3 years ago
Never be mean to a raven or crow. It will remember your face, and the whole flock will attack if you return. This is no old wife's tale!
#9
Bats. They eat more insects in one night than a spider will in a month. And they're rarely aggressive.
Edit: I'm seeing this theme in the comments, so I thought I should address it. Bats aren't harmless. They are a carrier of rabies, which is deadly to humans and animals alike. You should definitely be *wary of them. They are wild animals, and though they aren't usually confrontational, that doesn't make them friendly, either. All I ask is if they are not bothering you, leave them alone. If they are, then please, do something about it. I don't want anyone to feel like they are obligated to allow bats to nest in their chimney or attic. Bats belong in the wild, not in your house.
Firstname Lastname 3 years ago
A few days ago I learned that bat moms give birth upside down, catching the baby (who is blind and unable to fly) in their wings. There's a video, and after that, I don't think I could look at them negatively.
L.a. Williams 3 years ago
Bats are so adorable also not to be handled. They don't want to be in your hair. They eat so many bugs and I glad they made the list because most people think they want to bite you. While rabies is a problem just watch out for a bat not acting like a bat. That is true for almost all mammals.
tara 3 years ago
We heard scratching on the inside of the stove pipe one day, when we took the pipe apart there was the tiniest cutest little bat. We took the little one outside and put him on a tree. He turned and hissed (or something like that) at us, and it was the cutest freaken thing EVER
thEBOrdeSTpaNDA 3 years ago
Also ats are federally protected animals in the states, so if you ever want to annoy your HOA, put up a bat roost in your garden. They can't do anything about it. 😈😈😈
rxndomhumxn01 3 years ago
Thanks, I'll be sure to put an at roost up the next time I have the chance /j
Load More Replies... Pirates of Zen Pants 3 years ago
Bat storytime: I was in Peru in 2016, and my sleeping quarters involved a cot with mosquito netting and an open window. I woke up in the morning with my hand dangling down by the floor and the skin on one fingertip sheared off. It wasn't hurting that much, and I went on about my business. A week later, I'm telling my husband this, and he says, "Do they have vampire bats in Peru?" Me: "Nah, I don't think so." So we google it, and instantly a bunch of articles pop up about vampire bats spreading rabies in Peru. Tl;dr: I got bitten by a vampire bat, I didn't get rabies, and my fingertip skin grew back.
CatWoman312 3 years ago
Not sure why the edit was necessary. People will miss the whole point just so they can be right
Rainy Day Wolf 3 years ago
there are so many species of bats, some eat fruit and some eat nectar and thanks to bats we have tequila, they pollinize agave
T'Mar of Vulcan 3 years ago
Do not handle a bat bare-handed. If you find one by itself in the daytime, take it to a bat rescue. Just don't handle it with your bare hands - use a towel or oven glove as the bat will be scared and might bite you in self-defense. They are wonderful little animals and deserve to live and nom ALL the insects!
Although many of us only consider the need for animals in terms of providing us with leather, wool, food and companionship, there are plenty of other roles animals fill that affect humans without us even noticing. For example, we appreciate bees for their honey, but many people may not be aware that about 30% of the world’s crops and 90% of the planet’s wild plants rely on bees to pollinate them. Beavers are also unsung heroes of fighting climate change, as they work hard to regulate ecosystems through building dams. They reduce flooding and wildfire damage, preserve fish populations, and conserve freshwater reservoirs all to minimize the harmful effects we have caused on the environment.
Even rats, which are notorious for sneaking into our apartments and scaring city-dwellers as they scurry down the street, are extremely valuable for humans. They have an impressive sense of smell and are easily trained, so they have long been used to detect landmines and undergo testing in labs to ensure products are safe for human consumption. I'm not saying that you need to adopt the next rat you come across in a train station or leave a pizza on the street for rats to feast on, but just remember that they aren't all bad. In fact, they might not even be too different from us; some can even drive cars!
#10
Moths! There are some absolutely gorgeous species of moths that are even prettier than butterflies. They are also pollinators.
tara 3 years ago
OMG my ice heart is meltinnnnnng. I love these little furry faces and big black button eyes. When I Was a kid I would stay out on the deck beneath the patio light and (VERY gently) catch the moths in my hands, when they would calm down in my hands I would place them on my shirt. By the end of the night I would have like 20 moths resting on my shirt. I was the moth whisperer. No moths were harmed in the making of my living moth shirt.
Pirates of Zen Pants 3 years ago
Moth Whisperer, I salute you. You were an amazing kid.
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Marek Čtrnáct 3 years ago
My garden attracts hummimgbird moths. Fairy-like creatures that can drink from flowers without sitting down. You can't see their wings, so it's like a cylinder of a body just hovering in the air, sending its long proboscis out and drinking.
glowworm2 3 years ago
The first time I saw a hummingbird moth, I had no idea what it was and was scared that it could sting me. Now that I know what they are, they are very cute.
Load More Replies... Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 3 years ago
I adore moths-- they can be absolutely gorgeous. My personal favourite is the hummingbird month which is often mistaken for a hummingbird and is incredibly cute-- they are sweet little pollinators.
L.a. Williams 3 years ago
No problem with moths but I do try to get them back outside there is nothing to eat in a house I would imagine
Mandy Delaforce (PC Girl) 3 years ago
For some reason, I grew up thinking that moths were cute, but I was supposed to dislike them. I don't remember anyone telling me they were to be disliked, but it was there. Now, I battle against this need to find them horrible, as they are cute. I saw something once - All moths are butterflies, but not all butterflies are moths. It helps. :)
Nazda Pokmov 3 years ago
Yeah....one of these beautiful moths ate the h*ll out of my cashmere sweater collection.
#11
Snakes. They are trying to do their snakey thing and then some a*****e blamed them because some woman ate a piece of fruit.
Alex Thorburn 3 years ago
I have 2 corn snakes and help a reptile rescue centre. P.S Sneks are cute
Chucky Cheezburger 3 years ago
I try to rescue any snakes I find at work.Along with turtles and frogs and other critter type critters.
Katie Lutesinger 3 years ago
There's one for rats, too! It's on my list of places to visit one day. :p
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Donnie Mc00 3 years ago
only in the Christian religion is the snake a baddie. other cultures/religions thought better of them.
Khara Mei 3 years ago
Jormugandr? Nidhogg? Apophis? The Basilisk? The snake in The Epic of Gilgamesh that is used in the same way as in Genesis but was written much earlier? Dragons being serpents and are negative creatures in many cultures? The Hydra defeated by Heracles? The Ancient Greek stereotype of snakes being sinister and untrustworthy? There are a number of negative cultural and mythological depictions of snakes unrelated to the Torah or Bible. They are believed to be a result of ophidiophobia.
Load More Replies... L.a. Williams 3 years ago
Though the serpent did decive eve. I'm inclined to believe that it was that the devil was using the serpent. I'm not saying that they are warm and cuddly but they were created with intention of eating pests. I'm not afraid of snakes but the venomous ones should probably be avoided.
Fat Harry 3 years ago
The idea that adults still believe the story of Adam and Eve in the 21st century is laughable. That a snake deceived Eve is as likely as owls delivering the mail.
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DennyS (denzoren) 3 years ago
I've never been a fan of snakes, absolutely terrified of them. Over the recent years I've been more friendly (can't touch...I'll freak out lol) by observing them in the garden and letting them just pass through.
Kalina Hill 3 years ago
It wasn’t the snakes fault the devil disguised himself as a snake then tempted Adam and Eve
#12
Sharks.
Humans taste disgusting apparently and sharks prefer something with blubber like seals or whales. Sharks have very very poor eyesight so they often mistake surfers for seals (imagine someone laying down on a surf board, it looks like a seal from below) They aren’t entirely sure what humans are and sometimes they’ll do a test nibble to check. Then will go away once they realize that it’s not a seal. Unfortunately their test nibbles aren’t very gentle but also aren’t fatal as long as no major arteries were hit.
You’re more likely to be killed by a cow than a shark.
Pirates of Zen Pants 3 years ago
Vending machine: "duuun dun ... duuun dun ... duuun dun duuun dun ... DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN"
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Dragonmonkey17 3 years ago
All I imagine is a Shark going a long minding his own, until he sees someone swimming above him. Shark: hmm what's that? Is it tasty? I think I'm going to have a lil nibble. *Bites a guy's leg off* Shark: ew no that wasn't yummy at all *Swims away*
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Nicole Weymann 3 years ago
Well, cows do have a lot more opportunities than sharks, what with them being so much more numerous and living close to us.
T'Mar of Vulcan 3 years ago
And don't eat shark-fin soup! Don't patronize restaurants that serve it.
Judo Flipped By Nobody 3 years ago
snack machines(or dispensers or whatever, that machine you put money in and get snacks) have killed more people by falling on them then how many people have been killed by sharks
L.a. Williams 3 years ago
I know that a shark doesn't want to eat me and understand the confusion of sharks thinking surfers are a potential meal. Best way not to get a test bite. Don't go where they hunt. I like the ocean but I refuse to do more than wade. I'm positive I will never be taste tested.
Kellie Whyte 3 years ago
And we really need to stop killing them in the numbers that we currently do. 10 million sharks are killed PER YEAR!!!
Upstaged75 3 years ago
I always hate when ALL shark bites are labeled as "attacks". It skews the statistics. Like a 2 foot shark accidentally bites some kid on the foot and it's a "vicious attack".
To gain a fresh perspective on some of these infamous animals, we consulted Open Space Trust’s list of “Animals That Scare Us (And Why We Need Them)”. Just like broccoli and tomatoes scared me as a child, I eventually learned that they serve a purpose and are actually quite wonderful, once I kept an open mind. The first animal featured on this list that deserves better publicity is the rattlesnake. Being from Texas myself, I have always been taught to avoid these creatures at all costs. But the fact is, they are great for managing populations of small rodents that are notorious for carrying harmful diseases like Lyme and the plague. Their venom can also be quite useful, as it is being studied as a potential treatment for various types of cancer and even cystic fibrosis. I wouldn’t recommend you go searching for rattlesnakes in the wild, but if you do happen to encounter one, just let it be. For all you know, its lunch could be a mouse that was planning on invading your home later that afternoon.
#13
Wolves...they are vital to ecosystems and if you leave them alone they will do the same, if you save its life it'll remember years later, and its tragic they have such a huge negative stigma against them
Susie Elle 3 years ago
Wolves are migrating back into the Netherlands and people are freaking out their kids will be snatched from their beds
L.a. Williams 3 years ago
Do they leave doors open with raw meat sitting out? Do the wolves in the Netherlands have opposable thumbs? They are coming back because a food supply has been left unchecked. Don't leave your kids out around dusk or dawn you should be good. I live in a place where there are a lot coyotes. We have a large dog and we are cautious at dusk
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Lakota Wolf 3 years ago
But wolves are so awesome, they deserve to be on here twice! XD Source: am a wolf ;p
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Lily Foster 3 years ago
I love wolves. I've always have. And I really would want them to be loved by others also. They should get what they deserve
Jane Cortez 3 years ago
This is when Governments NEED to educate the public exhaustively! Wolves are shy, wary of humans, ( rightly so). They mate for life, have complex social systems, demonstrate empathy AND have a brain double the size of a dog that is the same size as them! They forge bonds with Ravens for life!!! Ravens have been filmed playing with wolf cubs as well as adults. It is believed to be a mutually beneficial relationship, the ravens call out to the wolves when they discover a dead, eg deer, etc. Wolves keep populations of deer, moose and elk HEALTHY! In instances where the local wolf population was destroyed by humans resident herds exploded in size, thereby outstripping the food supply, dying off from disease and starvation to fare worse off than previously. Wolves mate for life. The entire pack assists with the rearing of young. There has never been a death attributed, ( documented), of a human to wolves. They do not kill for blood sport like foxes and domestic dogs do.
#14
spiders, they're just doing their thing being good people and eating the true pests
MissPrideGirl 3 years ago
I’m used to seeing spiders because I live in Australia. Daddy long legs are especially welcomed and useful because they eat the mosquitoes.
Moxitron Jazz 3 years ago
wholeheartedly agree, but considering they're mostly females, the big ones anyhoo, shouldnt they be called Mommy Long Legs?? Doesnt roll of ze tongue as much but still...
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JJ 3 years ago (edited)
Recently I found out that I don't care about spiders outside - they can do whatever they want -, I just don't like them inside and close to me. For people scared (not panic) or disgusted by spiders, I highly recommend an insect catcher (link below). You can catch them without hurting them from a bit more distance and then have to time to look at them safely. This helped me a lot to get rid of my disgust of insects. (Link: https://www.natursch...88/md/snapy.jpg )
Rayvyn 3 years ago
i like them, they are cool. keep the mosquitos away. but when they are in the shower with me, they are getting washed down the drain
Tree P 3 years ago
I agree. I had one come down and hang in front of my face while in the shower. Had to wait for him to climb back up before I could get out.
Load More Replies... SCP 4666 3 years ago
you are never more than 1mi/km (or something like that) away from the next spider.
Nikki Angulo 3 years ago
Umm, pretty sure there's a whole lot more than 1 spider in a 1km area (never mind 1 mile)
Load More Replies... Michelle C 3 years ago
I am deathly afraid of spiders and I have this huge one that keeps sneaking in to my apartment...but I don't kill it, I catch it with a bowl and toss the bowl outside by a tree. Just to repeat it again in a couple of weeks.
The Doom Song 3 years ago
I'm scared of spiders, but only the massive ones. My partner will usually try and put them back outside depending on the spider. White tips and red backs get squished tho
Raine Soo 3 years ago
One summer, spiders hatched on my bedroom ceiling. I could see these tiny spiders crawl down the walls, and all over. They even parachuted down onto my bed. I wasn't in the mood to be swallowing spiders in my sleep, so I Swiffered (fluffy disposable duster) them, and put them outside in my garden. I had to do this a few times because there were so many of them.
#15
Rats! Everyone says they’re nasty, but they’re extremely clean. They’re also very intelligent!
Also the black plague was caused by fleas that infected the rats, not the rats themselves.
Missy Missy 3 years ago
Wild rats, sure. Not pet ones. Rats make excellent pets.
Load More Replies... Katie Lutesinger 3 years ago
They are adorable and very intelligent, and clean (if you keep them as pets you'll see just how much time they spend grooming). BUT they are also very destructive. When you keep pet rats you also get used to them chewing holes in things and shredding other things. Mostly it seems to be in order to make nesting material, because most of what they rip to shreds will be dragged into their favourite sleeping spot. And they will steal your food, because that's just their nature. They're scavengers and opportunists. It's why they're so successful, along with their intelligence and problem solving skills.
Sue User 3 years ago (edited)
Once set my drying rack too close to my rats cage and the chewed holes in the sleeve of my shirt.
Load More Replies... Susie Elle 3 years ago
I'm not conviced a wild rat is extremely clean at all, as they rummage through everything and anything. Tame rats, yes. Wild rats, no.
Lakota Wolf 3 years ago
They groom themselves extensively, similar to a cat. It is not in any wild animal's best interest for survival to be filthy.
Load More Replies... L.a. Williams 3 years ago
Well sewer rats can and do attack. They also harbor many things that can cause human illnesses in fact rat droppings cause breathing problems. As stated pet rat great. Rat you found outside just leave it alone coyotes and snakes eat them. Thank you for all the snakes ,owls, and coyotes who eat them
Marion Friedl 3 years ago
Domestic rats make much better pets for kids than nocturnal hamsters or shy guinea pigs or rabbits, rats love the interaction with their owners. Stay away from wild rats, and they´ll stay away from you if you don´t leave your garbage everywhere.
Rainy Day Wolf 3 years ago
The reason rats are so "dirty" and full of diseases is because we are disgusting and they roam the places we've made dirty... it's literally not them, it's us
Bats are another animal featured on this list that Reddit users wanted to seek justice for. But despite how strange looking they are and the fact that they feed on the blood of other animals, bats are really friends to humans. They eat their own body weight in insects every single day, which really helps out farmers who are trying to protect their crops. Some bats even eat a diet of fruit and nectar and are necessary for pollinating and dispersing seeds. Even bat dung, or guano, is useful in creating excellent fertilizer. As bizarre as they may seem, bats do a lot for humans and the planet. Be careful not to get too close though, as you’ll need a rabies shot if you touch a bat!
#16
At least in my area of the US, the buzzards clean up the trash and dead animals on the roads. Yes, they are not pretty to look at but they do the job barely anyone wants to do.
Pirates of Zen Pants 3 years ago (edited)
I was going to say that this was a hawk, but it turns out that in Europe, members of the Buteo genus are called buzzards. In the U.S., we call them hawks. When Americans say "buzzard," we mean a vulture.
Elizabeth Elliot 3 years ago
I think they're beautiful! In the uk they're pretty common, mostly hunters, taking rabbits, and are sometimes called 'Tourist Eagles"!
JanuarySounds 3 years ago
For Europeans that is an buzzard. In Germany they're called Bussard, but I just learned that Americans are referring to vultures when saying Buzzard.
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Upstaged75 3 years ago
We have huge Turkey Vultures where I live in the US. Not attractive to look at, but they are excellent at cleaning up road kill and other dead things. It helps to prevent the spread of disease. They are a necessary part of the ecosystem.
Samantha Mannion 3 years ago
But y is it a pic of a Hawn and not a buzzard or even vulture would have worked lol
L.a. Williams 3 years ago
I actually admire the larger birds they have a job and they do it well.
Elizabeth Butler 3 years ago
This comment means vultures. The photo is a hawk, confusingly called buzzard in Europe, but this OP is in USA and means USA.
#17
Since all the animals I wanted to mention already have been, I would instead like to nominate some select dog breeds, particularly breeds like Rottweiler, Doberman and Mastiff. These dogs get a really bad rep as being violent killing machines. That's pretty unfair, though. Just about any dog will be violent if you raise it that way and abuse the f**k out of it. Just about any dog can be super friendly and loving if you raise it properly as well. Even Chihuahuas and Jack Russells, with reputations for trying to fight everything that exists, can be adorable and innocent if they're raised and nurtured within a loving household.
So many dogs get a bad reputation just because of the media skewing things, and that's not fair. Have you even seen the families that raise these "violent" dogs that end up on the news? Those people often look very clearly like troublemakers, with a few that are less noticeable in that regard. Instead of blaming dogs for their actions, blame the sh*tty owners who've turned dogs into that.
James Edwards 3 years ago
My brother's friend raised Dobermans, he said if you have good parrent dogs, not mother and son, if you rase it as one of the family it will be one.
Persephone hates Pomegranate 3 years ago
my good friend has a doberman and he is the sweetest thing ever. loves to cuddle, play and run around
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L.a. Williams 3 years ago
Pit bulls we have a pit bull terrier mix was supposed to top out at 45lbs. She's almost a year old and now weighs 80+ but she thinks she is a lap dog. She has never hurt anything or one on purpose. Well except toys. She is sweet and loving. I will admit she has gotten excited and ran over our chihuahua. In fact she loves meeting new people after she's sure your not there to hurt anyone. She had a rough time when she was little we got her she had clearly been abused. She is a chicken the chihuahua is the brave one
KING ILLEGAL FOREST 3 years ago
My cousin rescues pits, and one of her current babies thinks she is a cat. A lap cat.
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Xenia Harley 3 years ago
Add pit bulls to that category of people giving these dogs a bad reputation. Again, when owners are jerks, dogs can be a nuisance. My pit bull is a tester dog at his doggy daycare, he is that gentle.
Powerful Katrinka 3 years ago
I'm so glad that there is a growing awareness that pitties do not deserve their "killer" reputation. For instance, a couple of years ago the city of Denver repealed its pit bull ban, due to popular demand. If I ever get another dog, it will be a pitty.
Load More Replies... JJ 3 years ago
Where I live, you have to pass a test before you are allowed to keep these dogs. If you don't and they find you, you're fined, dogs taken away and you're not allowed to keep them any more. While I agree with that any dog can be dangerous, if not raised properly, I think it's a good thing to have owners of certain breeds make a test before. I also think that some people just choose a dog because of looks and don't keep in mind that dogs are bred for certain reasons and have special needs.
Red Hair Blue Soul 3 years ago
If this is the case, you should take a test to raise a child.
Load More Replies... Deborah Harris 3 years ago
There are more bites from labradors than any other breed of dog in the UK, yet all you will read about are staffies. The media is the reason that so many Staffordshire bull terriers are abandoned and in rescue. I am the proud mother of 3 staffies, two of them rescues x
Pirates of Zen Pants 3 years ago
When I was growing up, I knew German shepherds, Rottweilers and Dobermans.The only dogs that ever bit me were my Grandmother's rat terrier and her friend's Chihuahua.
EpicWolfandSparrow 3 years ago
Only bites I've received or witnessed have been from couple different chihuahuas, an abused Shiba inu, and one other abused dog. But mainly just cats. Lots and lots of cat bites 😅
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#18
Skunks. They feed on a variety of pests around our homes and typically spray when they feel their life is in danger. So just don't sneak up on one lol.
They eat wasps and mice for example.
James Edwards 3 years ago
I had one as a pet, she was just like a cat, use to sleep with me and liked showers.
Pirates of Zen Pants 3 years ago
Once my husband and I were having a walk at twilight, and we saw a family of skunks. The baby skunks were taking turns sliding down a ramp attached to a house. The mother skunk was standing by and supervising.
L.a. Williams 3 years ago
I think I'll just be happy leaving them alone. However they don't just automatically spray some thing. First they hiss, then they stomp then the tail comes up to spray.
Katy McMouse 3 years ago
I just saw my first tiny baby skunk. I've seen juveniles, but not a baby. I'll be living off that high for a while.
Jan Bowyer 3 years ago
A skunk family used to visit when I was reading on my patio. Cute, sweet, non-aggressive. I enjoyed watching them, they are adorable.
Whitefox 3 years ago
There was one that lived at the campground we frequented. He'd wander through every evening, never bothered anyone. He was super cool. I kina miss him.
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Shelli Aderman 3 years ago
Doggos just don’t understand the warning signs, which is why they get sprayed so often…
Spiders are another creature that many people fear, but maybe we should be looking at them in a different light. There are over 45,000 species of spiders throughout the world, so they can’t all be bad! In fact, the vast majority of them are harmless, or even beneficial to humans. While you might be scared of getting a spider bite, it’s likely that they are not interested in you. Spiders’ diets mainly consist of pests like cockroaches, earwigs, flies, fleas, and mosquitoes. By eating these critters, spiders can greatly reduce the spread of many diseases, and similar to snake venom, spider venom might actually become an invaluable resource in the medical field as well. It is being studied as a potential treatment for heart attack patients, so if you're concerned about your cardiovascular health, you might want to put a little respect on the notorious spider name.
#19
Bears. Sans the Polar Bears which are aggressive towards humans (but also because they don't live near a lot of people anyway and aren't really used to them), most other types of bears that live near humans are not normally aggressive unless provoked, and will try to flee if possible. The black bear in particular is actually a fairly tame bear, and even the brown bears (Grizzly, Kodiak, etc.) bears will also generally leave you alone if you don't bother them.
L.a. Williams 3 years ago
Yes please don't try to take a selfie with a bear. Talking about the idiots who have tried. If see a bear just try to walk away . WALK.
Karri Berkowitz 3 years ago
Gotta love that ppl go into the animals' environments and then get butt hurt cuz the wild animal doesn't want to b friends. Don't know about u but a stranger just walks up into my house it will not end well.
Pirates of Zen Pants 3 years ago (edited)
A friend and I went camping at age 16 and left our mac and cheese out. Guess who came visiting at 2:00 am? A black bear. I could hear it snuffling and stomping around about two feet from my head on the outside of the tent. (Better than the inside, I know.) Folks, clean up after yourselves and lock up your mac and cheese.
Mosheh Wolf 3 years ago
I'm sorry people, but Brown bears are very large predators. While humans are not on their preferred diet, sometimes salmon and deer are not readily available. That doesn't mean that they should be hunted and killed, it means that they should be avoided, and people should be cautious around them. Interestingly, though, bears often attack humans because humans, by standing on our hind legs, look like another bear, and many bear species are extremely aggressive towards one another.
Daniel Atkins 3 years ago
Is tame the right word? Maybe shy is the word tame seems like they are friendly.
Bonni Poch 3 years ago
I'm not going to be the one to test that theory. I will admire and respect these gorgeous beasts from a very safe distance.
Daniel Yamada 3 years ago
I grew up in an area where there were a lot of black bears and have always been fascinated with them. The only problem we had with bears was trying to keep them away from garbage cans and dumpsters because they make a mess when searching for food in the garbage.
#20
Rats. Everyone thinks they’re disease ridden rodents but they’re very affectionate pets! They feel emotions, too! They’re just silly little creatures!
tara 3 years ago
Some of the best pets ever. Watching those little hands eating treats? C'mon that's adorable.
Rayvyn 3 years ago
i like watching them eat cheerios because they hold it like a bagel
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GayBoi 3 years ago
I would absolutely love to have pet rats, except my dogs all enjoy tracking mice/rats, and one of my dogs has already killed one, so I don't think it would be a good idea to get one right now 😅 But I also heard they don't live very long, and I also don't think I could handle that-
Katie Lutesinger 3 years ago
I love my four little fluffballs, who are currently chilling out in the "kitty castle" I bought for them. I wouldn't want a wild one in my home though; the ones I keep as pets are messy and impolite about snatching food off me as it is!
Marion Friedl 3 years ago
The worst fact about domestic/pet rats is that they only become 2 or 3 years old, they love to interact with their owners and can learn a lot of tricks, like using a tiny litterbox.
#21
Tarantulas.
They are extremely interesting creatures who want nothing to do with you. Many species of terestrial/fossorial tarantulas that can die from falling literally 2ft to the ground or less. They are very, *very* fragile and rarely bite at all, and even then, **no-one** has ever died from a tarantula bite. Some females can live to **35+** years old with many hitting over ten years to twenty years easy.
If you see one in the wild, *please* leave it be. Some people find it funny to try and drown them in their underground homes or poke at them from afar, but its cruel, they aren't hurting you.
(I am a tarantula keeper lol)
L.a. Williams 3 years ago
Well spiders in general was mentioned earlier and I am usually the one telling kids to leave them alone. I don't find them cute but that doesn't mean that they need to be killed
SkekVi 3 years ago
thank you and a blessing upon your house for understanding this.
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Katie Lutesinger 3 years ago
And they have little spooder paws! I have a friend who keeps one as a pet, and she says her eight legged fuzzy friend is not only harmless but a complete wimp.
Vultures are another animal that often are disregarded and underappreciated. As they are the scavengers of the bird world, it’s common for vultures to be portrayed as villains and unlikeable characters in animated films. But without vultures, we would be left with a lot more roadkill laying around. Vultures have an impressive sense of smell and can easily track down a fresh animal carcass. They do an excellent job cleaning up our roads, forests and deserts by eating up the decaying flesh that’s been left outside, which would otherwise become rife with bacteria and disease. Vultures are not likely to spread diseases to other creatures, but they do contribute great nutrients to soil through their droppings. So don’t judge these birds by their ugly exteriors; they’re the reason our highways are not overrun by rotting roadkill.
#22
Hyenas
L.a. Williams 3 years ago
Hey the females are in charge and give birth through a faux penis. They are the badasses of all canines. They also eat carrion also they can digest bone. It doesn't just come out smaller pieces. Top that.
SCP 4666 3 years ago
They actually belong to the feline family but really do look like dogs
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thEBOrdeSTpaNDA 3 years ago
(some) female hyenas have a foot-long fake d*ck to show their power to males and I find that hilarious
Jan Rosier 3 years ago
Visiting the zoo with the kids, their (large roaming-)area always drew me in for a long time...
Marion Friedl 3 years ago
Like vultures, they belong to Africa´s health police. And dustmen. LOL
#23
Gulls are actually really expressive and very social, so they're fun to watch. Mature gulls in flight are quite beautiful over the ocean. The reason they go after people's food is because people feed them.
Jordi Sharpe 3 years ago
And smart enough to know that nothing beats free food, so they milk it for what it's worth.
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Aileen Grist 3 years ago
I love our gulls. We put out the left over cat food twice a day and have a pair who we 'belong' to. They only visit when they expect food, don't let any other gulls bother us and shout at us if we don't have anything for them.
Jaybird3939 2 years ago
Eh. They've pooped on me before (I live in a seagull heavy population area). They get annoying in large groups because they're so damned loud!
Marion Friedl 3 years ago
Gulls also kill food from other animals, like pelicans, but that´s not their fault, they are like that, they never learned to hunt themselves. They simply can´t do that.
#24
Bats are my favorite animal and it breaks my heart that they're always the scapegoat. Rabies? Bats. SARS? Bats. COVID? Bats. They're very unlikely to pass on rabies, despite what that rabies copypasta might have you think because they die quickly from it.
Pirates of Zen Pants 3 years ago (edited)
My family used to go caving when I was a kid. We often saw bats. My mother told me not to wake them up, because it would interrupt their hibernation and they might starve. They were precious, with their little umbrella wings and their tiny puppy faces.
Katie Lutesinger 3 years ago
That whole "COVID started with some guy eating a bat" thing isn't even true anyway. Yes it seems to have come from a dodgy marketplace where people buy random unlucky animals for meat, but that's as specific as it gets.
Hippopotamuses 3 years ago
The ones with dog/fox faces are really cute. But there are also some with faces only a mother could love, out there too.
Deborah Harris 3 years ago
The same could be said for every species though ( the only a mother part) 🙂
Load More Replies... Marion Friedl 3 years ago
People in China buy animals like bats on the wet markets and eat them raw, this is how #COVID19 spread and mutilated in some Chinese humans. This is a fact. But bats do not transmit the disease directly while they´re alive.
SkekVi 3 years ago
bats have INSANE immune systems because of being flying animals, which is why diseases stay so long in them and get spread. It's not true they 'die quickly' from rabies, but just leave them alone and be aware that because their immune system evolved how it did, they're more dangerous to handle and you SHOULD NOT. Idk why people think 'leave that wild animal alone it's dangerous' is such a difficult set of instructions.
Tushar Roy Mukherjee 3 years ago
Bats' Immune systems mean are powerfulenough to kill most viruses. Most that they don't kill struggle to exist in their system. Also, rabies kills bats? Then thats one helluva Virus.
Whitefox 3 years ago
Wild animals accounted for 92.7% of reported cases of rabies in 2018. Bats were the most frequently reported rabid wildlife species (33% of all animal cases during 2018), followed by raccoons (30.3%), skunks (20.3%), and foxes (7.2%).Apr 6, 2020
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Similar to bees, wasps are another creature that many humans tend to hate. Sure, it can be annoying to be stung by one or have to swat them away from your picnic goodies. But they are actually quite smart and are important pollinators. In fact, certain fruits, like figs, rely exclusively on wasps to be pollinated. These little creatures also work as great clean-up crews, as they happily feast on dead insects. So if you find yourself irritated by a wasp that managed to find its way into your home, please think before you go swatting it down. There might be some plants waiting for it, so if you can find a way to coax it back outside without killing it, the wasp (and the fig lovers of the world!) will thank you.
#25
Mosquitos have a vital role in the ecosystem. They are the food of some animals like frogs and dragonflies. They are vegetarian most of the time; they eat nectar. They only bite when they are pregnant; they need the protein in the blood for the eggs.
BUT, mosquitos also have the most number of persons killed. They are the carrier of many diseases like malaria and dengue.
Jiminy 3 years ago
"mosquitos also have the most number of persons killed. They are the carrier of many diseases like malaria and dengue." This is enough reason for a bad rep in my eyes...
DennyS (denzoren) 3 years ago
Yeahhh...this was clearly written by a mosquito...nice try bud, not today.
Kenny Kulbiski 3 years ago
Nope! Their only mission in life is to make life miserable for people and animals. Only bite when they're pregnant? The ones around here must be knocked up all the time.
L.a. Williams 3 years ago
Sorry no sadness for a few less mosquitoes . That's why I like creatures that kill them just wish frogs were a little quieter
censorshipsucks 3 years ago
I find the noise of frogs welcome and relaxing
Load More Replies... CatWoman312 3 years ago
They could go extinct and the ecosystem wouldn’t be affected. I can’t believe they’re even on this list
SomeoneTookMySweetRoll 3 years ago
I thought this article did a pretty good job of considering both sides of the argument, but their conclusion is “Ultimately, there seem to be few things that mosquitoes do that other organisms can't do just as well” https://www.nature.com/articles/466432a
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Ben Stubbs 3 years ago
Throughout this list, I've gone "hmmm", "yeah", "definitely" until the mosquito, Having had malaria I disagree. Firstly, dragonflies don't eat, only their larvae do. Secondly, mosquitoes do not feed on nectar. Do you get your facts from the Donald Trump institution of reliable resources? x
Ash 3 years ago
Believe it or not, humans aren't all that important to the ecosystem. I think many would argue that humans are actively BAD for the ecosystem. Given that mosquitos serve a valuable purpose as food for other very important animals, and humans don't really serve any purpose at all at this point, mosquito-related human casualties shouldn't be that big a deal... especially considering the massive negative impact that humans have had on the earth, AND that humans kill more humans than any non-human animal species does. They've been around for 100 million years - that's several times longer than the mere 300,000 years that humans have existed. They can be nearly completely thwarted by a fan and some yellow light bulbs. How are we still whining about something that can be confused by a light breeze?
Elaine Roberts 3 years ago
Let’s see if you think the same if someone you love is killed by malaria or dengue fever.
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#26
Alligators! So many get killed every year because they’re considered nuisance gators even if they’re not doing anything. Yes, of course they are dangerous, but they were here way before us, so we should respect them and their space. If an alligator bites or hurts someone, it’s usually because they decided to go up and try to pet it or ride or whatever. Or they ignored signs saying not to swim in waters where gators live.
Seonag Udell 3 years ago
Love looking at gators, they are very cute. Just the big mouth and huge sharp teeth that worry me.
Ozymandias73 3 years ago
Practically living dinosaurs. Awesome creatures. Just be smart and leave them the F alone! Stop with the alligator/croc shows. Everyone always acting shocked and surprised when the "trainer" gets their hand bit. These creatures aren't made to be pets or attractions. Respect their obvious power and leave them be.
Marion Friedl 3 years ago
Do not swim in a river where gators live, that´s the rule. The same for crocs. And yes, they´´re descendants of dinosaurs, were here long before humans evolved.
L.a. Williams 3 years ago
Sorry no love for gators. I don't they should be killed just because and I believe if you use the sense God gave you they shouldn't be a problem.
#27
Pigeons
JJ 3 years ago
I love pigeons. And pigeons love our property. They build nests in our huge tree in the front garden, bath in the pond and find food around here. I also feed them in winter. Two years ago we co-parented their three babies who fell out of the tree a couple of times (so we put them back up until they were safe enough), this year they started using the huge hazelnut bushes for their children. They even accept me in the front garden without flying away, just watch me interested and then figure, "Ah, no danger, that's the one that brings food in winter." I really like those awesome birds.
Khara Mei 3 years ago
Pigeons are lovely. They aren't actually wild animals though, they're feral. For a reason I don't currently recall, pigeon fancying fell out of fashion and they are the descendants of domestic pigeons.
Poly Amorous 3 years ago
Ooh! Ooh! Did you know that carrier pigeons are now extinct? I thought they were just trained but no
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L.a. Williams 3 years ago
I don't go out of my way to feed or kill them that is about a generous they are getting from me. I know they are trying to survive but in places with larger human population they can be hard on people with breathing problems.
We hope this list is helping you open your eyes to the wonderful world of the animal kingdom, particularly animals that you might not have been too fond of before today. Regardless of how you personally feel about any of these creatures, our planet relies on them to carry out a specific purpose, so it's our responsibility to make sure they do not go extinct. Keep upvoting the replies that made you reconsider your stance on any animal, and then let us know in the comments what your favorite underappreciated critter is!
#28
Chihuahuas. They can be a handful when not raised right but if you do a good job training them then they are the absolute biggest sweethearts and loving dogs you could ever hope for. The ones that are trained poorly can be quite annoying and downright aggressive but that isn't how the properly trained ones behave at all.
L.a. Williams 3 years ago
Yes everyone thinks small dogs don't need training. I do train mine but they also bond very closely with one person and I have found they don't trust everyone to be around their person.
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L.a. Williams 3 years ago
A big problem with chihuahuas is not respecting their space. Just because they are little everyone thinks it's okay to leave them with no way to escape if they want to. They are small so people think it's just fine to get close to their faces or pick up the dog when they don't want to be. Let the chihuahua come to you always respect them like they are a large dog if a German shepherd decides that they don't want you to pet them they walk away. That tiny little chihuahua has the belief that they are a dog. Now if we could get people to understand that they would all like a chihuahua.
Carlotta Müller 3 years ago
Every untrained dog gets annoying like sh*t. My chihuahuas love children and every human they see and want to be pet. A lot of people get a little dog an think they do not have to train it, THat is the problem.
Benita Valdez 3 years ago
Of course they're jerks, you would be too if the one raising you didn't raise you proper and you were constantly towered over and probably not given space because you're so tiny. I'd be a jerk too. They just need space and training. Many little dogs don't get trained because "oh what harm could they do?" So don't bother.
Aunt Riarch 3 years ago
You hit the nail on the head there Benita, people don't think that small dogs need to be trained
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Fluffy mommy panda 3 years ago
I had one her name was stitch she was the most lovely and friendly dog. She was a baby. She would bark at people but once they came near she would hide behind mommy. And one person once held her when she hadn't seen him before and she was just quiet. But every now and then reminded him. Hey I don't know you. She was awesome. She passed away about 3 weeks ago. Best dog I ever had.
coconut <3 3 years ago
my bestie is a 17 year old long haired chihuahua and she is the best dog. she loves going for small walks, and when she gets excited she jumps. she loves pasta sauce aswell <3
Lara Verne 3 years ago
People think that small dog breeds don't need training, just because they're small.
Phoenix Connor 3 years ago
I have Chihuahuas and they are wonderful. They were abused tho. The older one was kept in a horse stall and she is a cranky b*tch we call old hag even though she is so sweet but barks at our younger, bigger dogs because she doesn't like them very much. The slightly younger, brown one we call ankle biter because she was beaten often as a puppy and she absolutely hates other people that aren't us. We call her scooter because she stretches out her back legs and scoots around when she is happy. She is an angel when she wants to be and her howl is the cutest thing ever.
Phoenix Connor 3 years ago
The older Chihuahua doesn't like people either but she won't bite them like the other one. Just bark
Load More Replies... #29
Piranhas. Their bloodthirsty reputation was created as part of a PR stunt to make Amazon seem more interesting
Jiminy 3 years ago
Comic books made me believe that I will be reduced to bones in seconds when entering water in the Amazon with just a tiny fleshwound...
Slim 864 GVG 3 years ago
Back in the 70s, there was a knock off of the movie Jaws called Piranha. People were eaten within a matter of seconds and I am sure that movie didn't help their already misunderstood reputations. Lol
Load More Replies... Michelle C 3 years ago
and lets not forget "Piranha 3D" where they ate Jerry O'Connell's weiner!
Pirates of Zen Pants 3 years ago
When I was in Peru, I hung out with a couple who were fishing. The woman caught several piranha. There wasn't much meat on them -- just a lot of bones. The woman cooked them up in a tomato sauce.
Minath 3 years ago
There's video of Jeremy Wade sitting in a pool of piranhas and he survives without a scratch on him.
Daniel Atkins 3 years ago
Back when Walmart sold fish the store i worked at had piranhas. I had to clean the glass inside the tank. They acted like any other fish when you stick your hand in their tank. They avoided it..
Load More Replies... Jane Cortez 3 years ago
We actually rescued a piraña and it is a very shy fish. It does a little dance when it sees me because it is excited for me to feed it. I routinely put my hand in the tank to clean, ( keeping a careful eye). It actually will not eat in front of me!
Jaybird3939 2 years ago
C'mon! Haven't you seen the Documentary Piranhas! A bloodthirsty school of them trapped tourists on a boat and eventually at them all. I'm terrified!
Jewelly A. Shetka 3 years ago
Had a pair...lost one, but had the other for years. Have a scar on the ball of my right index finger...I was transferring it from a bucket back to it’s cleaned tank. By hand, nets didn’t work and weren’t safe. Got a sideways bite when I wasn’t paying attention to what I was doing. Didn’t realize I’d been bitten until I saw blood around the fish.
Marion Friedl 3 years ago
They´re predator fish, what do you expect??? But they also eat old, sick and weak Amazon fish or other animals from the river.
#30
Cockroaches. There are over 4,000 species of cockroaches, but only 30 of them are considered pests. This means that approximately 99.2% of cockroach species want nothing to do with human habitats.
Only the pest species spread diseases as well. Non-pest species don't and have the important job of decomposing organic matter in the environment. Some of them look really cool too, like the Mardi gras cockroach
They're fairly intelligent creatures for insects as well and are also highly sociable. Aside from the approximately 0.8% of cockroach species that are pests, cockroaches are important creatures to the health of the Earth and are also fairly interesting to study.
Khara Mei 3 years ago
I used to have pet ones, well Madagascan Hissing Cockroaches. Those were clean and social critters. But then again I don't hate any animal.
tara 3 years ago
I think bugs of all kinds are fantastic! I HATE it when people squash them for no reason!!! 'The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members'
L.a. Williams 3 years ago
A woman who lived next door to me hated bugs she squashed a firefly. I was going to move it but she got to it first. Poor firefly. She also wanted to sweep away all my spiders. None of them were poisonous. My hubby is a people person so he told I would get mad if she swept them away. My spiders survived until it got to cold
Load More Replies... tara 3 years ago
I got over my fear of maggots at the compost bin outside by making a baby voice that said "Yayyyy! We are baby maggots! We love eating garbage! Yayyyy! We are so glad to be alive!" Now I'm all like..."Oh the children....."
Load More Replies... FrillyDragon 3 years ago
Unfortunately my dislike of them is learned from my mom who had one run up her pants leg in her grandmother's outhouse when she was young. So my brain still says "NOPE!" Also I'm allergic to them!
GlamourGhoul 3 years ago
Now I know they have a job, but still big nope. My cousin smashed one on my face when we were kids, and I've never gotten over it. (I still hate my cousin for it)
Shayda 3 years ago
Invading my home is a good enough reason to squish. You toss them outside and they come right back in.
tara 3 years ago (edited)
lol I suppose if you give them a map or something. Besides, when it's cold or rainy they need to be placed gently in the basement if you have a dirt floor...it's where they GO.
Load More Replies... Nazda Pokmov 3 years ago
I detest roaches especially the Palmetto Bug (4" roach in Florida)...they will fly with their wings up to 10' and like to find any uncovered arm and feed on the salt on your skin. To wake up and find you are dinner to a Palmetto bug is enough to give you nightmares!!!
tara 3 years ago
JUST the salt? Cause I've got this jerk of a mosquito family that actually eats my blood at night.....
Load More Replies... Poly Amorous 3 years ago
Eulgh. Fine, but i just don't want them in my house or my hair (true story. Traumatized me for a WHILE against cockroaches)
#31
It's extinct, but Oviraptor.
Back in the day the first one found was a well preserved specimen lying in a clutch of eggs.
Not much was known about oviraptor eggs at the time but these seemed to be from a much larger species, so it was thought that the critter died trying to get a free meal, so the paleontologist gave it the name "Egg theif"
Years later, a really well preserved clutch of eggs was found, with perfect baby Oviraptor skeletons inside.
The original specimen was a mother that died trying to protect its eggs, not trying to eat them. But because of paleontologys' "first come, first served" rules in regards to naming things it will be forever known as a thief.
It's like the Linnean version of a dingo ate my baby.
Pirates of Zen Pants 3 years ago (edited)
Yes. Poor woman. Nobody believed her. She was sent to jail for murder and only released when the baby's jacket was found near a dingo lair.
Load More Replies... L.a. Williams 3 years ago
Dingos are feral dogs. Most animals that are feral will go with easy meal first. How can anyone actually worry about an animal that no longer exists. However the story background could definitely get me to be a fan.
Lorraine R 3 years ago
Basilosaurus ("King Lizard") was later identified as an early whale, not a reptile at all.
What do you think ?
Laika-Mutton 3 years ago (edited)
At the risk of downvotes, I know Pitts are controversial but sometimes I wonder if their reputation perpetuates the number of scumbag idiot owners who abuse and train them to be vicious, which then contributes to the reputation and perpetuates the cycle and the image. I guess the whole chicken and egg thing.
Christos Arvanitis 3 years ago
Pitties are some of the sweetest dogs that I've ever met. Like with most/many breeds of dogs, it has so much to do with how they are raised.
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Ranger Kanootsen 3 years ago
I think humans are the most fascinating, complex and amazing animals. So many emotions, so much violence, but so much innovation and compassion there too. Definitely the most confusing!!
Load More Replies... SkekVi 3 years ago
Why are some animals on this list twice but wasps are nowhere to be found??? There's no reason to hate wasps, they're just pollinator friends who need a bit more space than others.
Marion Friedl 3 years ago
Also no reason to hate hornets, I catch and release them and bees with a transparent mug and a piece of paper when they ended up in my apartment accidentually.
Load More Replies... Greta Kolding 3 years ago
I don't understand people who say they love snakes, lizards or spiders and then keep them captive as pets. They are not able to feel affection for you. There is a reason why we call the part of the brain that run basic survival instincts the "reptile brain"
Laika-Mutton 3 years ago (edited)
At the risk of downvotes, I know Pitts are controversial but sometimes I wonder if their reputation perpetuates the number of scumbag idiot owners who abuse and train them to be vicious, which then contributes to the reputation and perpetuates the cycle and the image. I guess the whole chicken and egg thing.
Christos Arvanitis 3 years ago
Pitties are some of the sweetest dogs that I've ever met. Like with most/many breeds of dogs, it has so much to do with how they are raised.
Load More Replies... Ranger Kanootsen 3 years ago
I think humans are the most fascinating, complex and amazing animals. So many emotions, so much violence, but so much innovation and compassion there too. Definitely the most confusing!!
Load More Replies... SkekVi 3 years ago
Why are some animals on this list twice but wasps are nowhere to be found??? There's no reason to hate wasps, they're just pollinator friends who need a bit more space than others.
Marion Friedl 3 years ago
Also no reason to hate hornets, I catch and release them and bees with a transparent mug and a piece of paper when they ended up in my apartment accidentually.
Load More Replies... Greta Kolding 3 years ago
I don't understand people who say they love snakes, lizards or spiders and then keep them captive as pets. They are not able to feel affection for you. There is a reason why we call the part of the brain that run basic survival instincts the "reptile brain"
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