Unpopular and Maligned Animals
 

Thought it might be interesting to have a thread regarding the creatures people tend to dislike almost on instinct. My definition of animal here does not include humans or plants or fungi, but would include any other living entity that feeds on living things that feed on other living things.

I saw this today and thought it was neat:

Researchers discover empathy in rats:

Hyenas
 

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...hyenas_big.jpg

However, this is interesting...

http://ethiovision.com/hyenas-not-a-...r-in-ethiopia/

Cochroaches. I love all things living and can't even kill a spider in my house, but these things just skeeve me. I have never had one in my house, thank goodness. I went to the Zoo in Santa Barbara and they had a hissing cockroach exhibit. I did not look intentionally, but as soon as I saw them I went I to an instant panic attack. My girlfriend at the time had to like walk me out of the exhibit, lmao. So weird. I have never had a personal experience with them that I can remember.

Don't ever move to Texas :)

You best not come to louisiana,we have generational roaches..they get bigger every generation..the plametto bugs will spook ya big time..yuck hate em!

Ok.. I cant read this thread lmao.

I had a pet cockaroach I named Big Bug and trained it to follow me in every room, eat off a plate with two front legs, do somersaults, sit on my shoulder, and sit on the sofa with me and watch TV.

Did it have a favorite show?

Rats FREAK ME OUT. I've run down the street screaming after seeing a rat. I tried reading the rat article but the rat in a tube picture was giving me the heebie jeebies. I think I'd rather find out my house had ghosts than rats.

I like lizards though, I guess lots of people don't. They have have cute little faces.

We were suppose to be on David Letterman, but it mysteriously disappeared!:blink:

It's funny that nat should start this thread cause one of my least fav animals are

Gnats

Those pesky little flying monkeys.

These smaller flies are worse than the bigger versions cause you can't see them coming or anticipate their flight paths.

We can't forget the ever popular Spider
 

http://jeffvrabel.files.wordpress.co.../tarantula.jpg

This guy writes a very funny blog about his spider experiences..

http://jeffvrabel.com/2011/07/19/im-...mediately-why/

O.M.F.G.... *screams*

Possum
 

http://dcairns.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/possum11.jpg

There's a possum that lives in my back yard... we cross paths occasionally, since we're both active at night. Freaks me out every time- it reared up and hissed at me once, and I was the one who nearly played dead. I know I should feel more fondly toward North America's only marsupial, but they're just so....mismatched.

They get a bad rap on the rabies thing too. Though they *can* carry rabies, it's not very likely- their body temp is too low.

I'm not one bit surprised. It's one of those little know facts, but cockroaches are frequently glossophobic.

FML
 

:|. This thread is SCARY!!!

I have pet rats and I highly recommend them for friends looking for a first small pet for their kids. Rats are FAR less likely to bite than gerbils or hamsters and they are clean and playful. I've had every type of (legal) pet out there and rats are surprisingly high on my love list. I even leave their cage door open because they wander a bit on the top and sides but NEVER leave the immediate cage area. Very smart, sweet pets!

I love rats. I love rodents in general. I brought my white mouse to school once in my pocket and then my nickname was rat until we moved and I changed schools.

Interesting fact:

rats are not carriers of rabies. They cannot carry or transmit rabies.

True, unless they are bit by an animal carrying rabies. Non-meat eating animals like squirrels, rabbits and bats that eat fruit or bugs are also not carriers. Because raccoons and possums scavenge scraps and eat meat, they have a higher incidence of carrying rabies.
ETA: Only because many people believe incorrectly that rats, etc., cannot get or give rabies: http://www.ratbehavior.org/DryBite.htm

They can, but the cases are rare.