What animal do you personally think is the most misunderstood in terms of superstition and human intolerance?

Question

Also tell me why you think they are so misunderstood and what you think might be done to alleviate the ignorance of the general population in regards to the wild animal....

I dont mean misunderstood scientifically, rather I mean wild animals that people have misconceptions about that causes them to fear and persecute the wild animal...... just to clarify for you...Thanks in advance everyone!!

Answer 1

Well being an entomologist, I see much prejudice toward insects and spiders. I think that spiders get the worst of it though. Many people are just turned off by the idea that spiders have 8 legs. I know people that have a fear of spiders and didn't even know that they can bite. I do believe though that this arachnophobia is instinctive. Many of the great apes are instincitvely fearful of spiders, and that adaptation to avoid dangerous creepy crawlies may have remained in our subconcious.
What many people dont realize is the benefits of spiders to this planet, especially to us. I have studied Mosquitoes for several years, and let me tell you if it weren't for spiders from many different families, we would not even be able to go outside, they would be so bad. Spiders keep their numbers so low, the rest of the world can tolerate them.I have studied various species of Aranidae (orb weavers) in marshes before, and I have witnessed a single black and yellow argiope (Argiope aurantia) capture 51 mosquitoes in 6 hours. It web was so full it had to build a new one by the end of the day.
The problem is, is that people have misconceptions as you mentioned, they believe that all spiders are out to kill us and that they are all venomous (so many people say poisonous, which doesn't apply here).
However, I dont feel as sorry for spiders as I do for certain other animals. Great white sharks for instance have been getting a bad wrap ever since Speilberg produced jaws, now when ever there is an attck, moronic humans will go out and kill any types of sharks they canget their hands on even a two foot long nurse shark will be killed.
Wolves have been getting a bad wrap ever sinse europeans came to North America, they puy bounties on their head and had them almost completely erradicated.
Seals and Tigers killed for their dicks because they are apparent aphrodisiacs.......thats a bunch of horse **** now isnt it.
I just hate human stupidity..............but there is nothing we can do, stupid people will always be stupid now matter how much we try to change them

Answer 2

I'd have to say snakes, people have a lot of misconceptions and tend to persecute and hunt them, although most keep the rodent population down.
But coyotes are probably the animal that's had the most bounties put on its head, even though they eat a lot of rodents as well.
I think if people understood predator-prey relationships better they'd be less likely to interfere, and if they were aware that it's not just a human world we live in they might appreciate all the things going on around them.
Plus, just back up and observe--most other animals will live and let live!

Answer 3

Although I agree with the answer - bats, I believe the most misunderstood animal is the snake. Which has been portrayed as evil ever since that apple thing. They are part of the eco system and are needed to maintain balance.
The only way to alleviate the situation is through education.
I used to catch wild snakes and take them to my son's school for show and tell to educate his classmates (and teachers), on the benefits of having them in our environment and to help them identify the characterists of non poisonous snakes.
I mainly demonstrated my favorite snake - Florida Banded King Snake, other snakes I would 'show' are Black Snakes, Hognose Snakes, and Rat Snakes. The Rat Snakes are the most aggressive of the above mentioned.
I never kept these snakes long, I can't feed one animal to another, so I would release them in a safe place.

Answer 4

I dont think there is just one, I think all animals are misunderstood. People have fear of almost every animal. They dont see that bears attack because they search for food. Spiders bite because they feel threatened as well as snakes and other animals who attack when provoked. I love all animals so I cant say I misunderstand any of them. I can see why they would be though. Which is why I try to inform my kids at work that spiders are not bad by bringing in my tarantula to let her crawl on them. Hehehehehe, even the kids who are afraid learn to like her when they start to understand.

Answer 5

expensive Camira, I consider each thing Tish suggested. one hundred%. i stumble upon it amazing and somewhat pathetic that we've had an Animal Rights stream be so time-honored in this u . s . a . yet i have not considered a lot help for the youngster's Rights stream. acceptable celebration being that the U. S. nevertheless hasn't ratified the UN Treaty on the Rights of the youngster. (one in all 2 countries who have not - Somolia is the different.) i'd opt to characteristic that i know first hand that there are also many people (numerous people in this board on my own) who're very in touch about those issues from all planes and that i have a good time with their efforts to make a huge difference, no matter if with the help of their movements of their own homes and prerequisites, with the help of volunteering their time, lending their money or voices or notwithstanding they try to help. thanks.

Answer 6

I would say for a wild animal it would be the snake. Snakes will feed on small rodents and don't carry a lot of diseases, so they have a purpose. However, most people are scared of them.For domesticated animals I would say certain breeds of dogs (doberman, etc.).

Answer 7

Bobcats and mountain lions. As members of the cat family, they are as scared of humans as a housecat is when you startle it. It will run away from you. IN TV and Movie depictions, they are always about to attack people, and they don't do that unless they happen to be rabid--but all animals will do that if Rabid.

If I had a second choice, it would be bees, and my third choice is flies. They both serve important functions in nature...Bees with pollination, flies with decomposition.

Answer 8

Cockroaches! They are so misunderstood by humans, especially the women. They are living things too, you know, they have the right to live, the right to freedom, to shelter, and to basic health care... but I personally don't give a damn about those rights:p I'd smash them when I see them, they're eeekiieee!!! Eww, just the thought of them makes me shiver :p

So roaches, roaches definitely is my answer :)

Answer 9

Bigfoot

Answer 10

I feel it's the wolf personally. Farmers hunt them to the point of extinction regularly, just because they don't want to fence their herd.

It's idiotic.

Wolves rarely hunt in human areas and only kill the sick and dying. That is assuming hunters have not cleared the area of game for them to hunt, then they will pretty much kill anything they can get.