reepy?reatures!
We sometimes inadvertently judge people based on our visual perceptions of them before we actually get to know them. We often find out we were way off base, and promise ourselves not to do this in the future. But most people do not think about this much when it comes to animals - if they are cute and cuddly looking, like the tiger, dolphin, or bear, we love them. No matter they might see us as adversaries, competition or even predators. If we don’t care for the way they look - long and slithery, slimy, hairy or skittery, we don’t like them and call them creepy. Well, I think it’s the same as with people - you just have to get to know them! So I’ve picked some creatures you might not want to get close to, to give you a better appreciation of the vital roles they play in a healthy environment and some of their amazing capabilities.
| Am I bugging you? | |
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Insects in general are often looked upon with disdain. We wish they weren’t around to "bug" us at all, but if they weren’t, we’d all be in big trouble. There are more than a million known species of insects in the world and you can find them everywhere on land, even the freezing Arctic and Antarctic environments. They are inextricably woven into the web of life on this planet. Without "bugs", plants would not be pollinated or have rich decomposed soil to grow in, so herbivores like deer, cows and rabbits would not survive. Aardvarks, anteaters, armadillos, shrews and countless other insectivores would also not exist. Without herbivores or insectivores, carnivores would not have enough food. I’m sure I don’t need to explain what that means to us omnivores…. |
| A snake in the grass | |
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The way people feel about snakes is often strongly influenced by learned cultural beliefs. There are societies that revered them. In fact, our modern medical symbol of two snakes wound around a staff comes from Greek mythology. Many people may be afraid of snakes because some are venomous. But in fact, only about 10 percent of all snake species inject venom in their bite. Without snakes we would be overrun by rodents and other prolific small mammals. They are also a food source for some birds of prey. Of course you want to avoid getting close to any animals in the wild, but you don’t need to fear snakes just because of the way they look. |
| Its not easy being green | |
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Slimy is not a description most people prefer. But frogs, and other amphibians have to live with it. Frogs are actually very fascinating animals with some incredible adaptations. They are found just about everywhere there is water - and in case of drought, some species can survive for several years by burrowing underground. They are also one of the world’s best jumpers, leaping up to twenty times their body length. Frogs and other amphibians also feed on a lot of those pesky insects we don’t like! |
| Bats in the belfry or bird-brained? | |
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Even though there are many extremely beautiful and harmless birds in the world, there are some who would still call them scary (consider the misunderstood vulture!). Things that fly are a problem to some people. And if you add bats onto this list, that’s when some would even call it creepy. Birds and bats play an extremely important role in maintaining the health of the ecosystems in which they live. Birds that eat seeds disperse these seeds throughout the ecosystem, often expanding habitat. Nectar eating birds are important pollinators to many plant species. And insect eating bats can consume vast quantities of insects each night. They truly are beneficial species. |
So next time you get that "creepy"
feeling, remember, there is much more to that animal than meets the eye.
If you would like to visit with more of Julie's "creepy" friends, try our Spooky Safari!
