Whenever you think of horror, do you think of bats and spiders? Or when watching an intense night time scene in one of your favorite movies, do you notice that there are wolves howling? Does it send chills down your spine?
Throughout history, certain creatures have been portrayed as “evil” or “terrifying”. They may have sharp teeth or unusual features, but these animals are as important as any other creature. But due to superstitions or fear, we have nearly wiped out many species, or put them under a bad light.
Here are some spooky critters that have more to them than what we see.
Gray Wolf (Canis Lupus): Gray Wolves are popularly known for their eerie howls on full moon nights. The idea that wolves howl at the moon is actually a misconception. They howl in order to communicate between pack members. Their vocalization can actually be heard from ten miles away. These canines are an incredible hunting force as a pack, and use teamwork to overtake creatures larger than them, like moose. They also have an amazing amount of stamina, able to travel for 30 miles a day!
Due to urbanization and cattle herding, wolves have started to hunt livestock because of the lack of prey. As a result, during the mid 1900s, in a lot of states, wolves were almost extinct. When the Endangered Species Act took force, gray wolves were taken under protection, and the population is coming back, especially in key wolf habitats like Yellowstone National Park. When the wolves almost went extinct, the ecosystem at Yellowstone National Park nearly collapsed; deer populations exploded, causing overgrazing, depriving other species in the park of food. Now that gray wolves are protected in the park, there are nine wolf packs in the park as of January 2021.
Bats (Chiropetra): Bats are commonly associated with witches and vampires, and are thought to suck blood. That is only true for one bat species, the vampire bat, and that only sucks a small amount of blood from livestock or animals, rarely from humans, and not enough to cause pain. Some bats are actually herbivores, drinking pollen from flowers.
Due to deforestation, many bat habitats are being destroyed, and as a result, their populations are decreasing. Another reason is that humans sometimes enter bat caves during their hibernation, causing them to panic and exit the cave, depleting their energy. Humans can also bring an invasive white fungus that grows on a bat’s muzzle and wings. It has killed millions of bats across North America.
Sharks (Selachimorpha): With their sharp teeth and quick speed, it’s no wonder that they are so widely known for their ferocity. But not all sharks are like that. There are eight orders of sharks; Great White Sharks are in the order known as “Mackerel Sharks”. But the world’s largest shark, which is actually the world’s largest fish, the whale shark, is a carpet shark, and only eats microscopic plankton. The eight orders are Ground Sharks, Dogfish Sharks, Carpet Sharks, Cow & Frilled Sharks, Sawsharks, Angel Sharks, Horn Sharks, and Mackerel Sharks.
Due to overfishing, certain sharks are actually sought after or they are actually caught up in the nets. The tope shark, or school shark, is an example of a shark species that has been overfished for their parts. They are used to make shark fin soup, a popular food in Asia that has caused a shark harvesting and hunting industry to be born.
Animals should be respected, enough to keep a healthy distance from them, and enough to preserve their populations. Moreover, looking beneath the surface helps us understand the true beauty of these creatures.
Throughout history, certain creatures have been portrayed as “evil” or “terrifying”. They may have sharp teeth or unusual features, but these animals are as important as any other creature. But due to superstitions or fear, we have nearly wiped out many species, or put them under a bad light.
Here are some spooky critters that have more to them than what we see.
Gray Wolf (Canis Lupus): Gray Wolves are popularly known for their eerie howls on full moon nights. The idea that wolves howl at the moon is actually a misconception. They howl in order to communicate between pack members. Their vocalization can actually be heard from ten miles away. These canines are an incredible hunting force as a pack, and use teamwork to overtake creatures larger than them, like moose. They also have an amazing amount of stamina, able to travel for 30 miles a day!
Due to urbanization and cattle herding, wolves have started to hunt livestock because of the lack of prey. As a result, during the mid 1900s, in a lot of states, wolves were almost extinct. When the Endangered Species Act took force, gray wolves were taken under protection, and the population is coming back, especially in key wolf habitats like Yellowstone National Park. When the wolves almost went extinct, the ecosystem at Yellowstone National Park nearly collapsed; deer populations exploded, causing overgrazing, depriving other species in the park of food. Now that gray wolves are protected in the park, there are nine wolf packs in the park as of January 2021.
Bats (Chiropetra): Bats are commonly associated with witches and vampires, and are thought to suck blood. That is only true for one bat species, the vampire bat, and that only sucks a small amount of blood from livestock or animals, rarely from humans, and not enough to cause pain. Some bats are actually herbivores, drinking pollen from flowers.
Due to deforestation, many bat habitats are being destroyed, and as a result, their populations are decreasing. Another reason is that humans sometimes enter bat caves during their hibernation, causing them to panic and exit the cave, depleting their energy. Humans can also bring an invasive white fungus that grows on a bat’s muzzle and wings. It has killed millions of bats across North America.
Sharks (Selachimorpha): With their sharp teeth and quick speed, it’s no wonder that they are so widely known for their ferocity. But not all sharks are like that. There are eight orders of sharks; Great White Sharks are in the order known as “Mackerel Sharks”. But the world’s largest shark, which is actually the world’s largest fish, the whale shark, is a carpet shark, and only eats microscopic plankton. The eight orders are Ground Sharks, Dogfish Sharks, Carpet Sharks, Cow & Frilled Sharks, Sawsharks, Angel Sharks, Horn Sharks, and Mackerel Sharks.
Due to overfishing, certain sharks are actually sought after or they are actually caught up in the nets. The tope shark, or school shark, is an example of a shark species that has been overfished for their parts. They are used to make shark fin soup, a popular food in Asia that has caused a shark harvesting and hunting industry to be born.
Animals should be respected, enough to keep a healthy distance from them, and enough to preserve their populations. Moreover, looking beneath the surface helps us understand the true beauty of these creatures.