Which animals do you think are the most misunderstood in Britain? I really think people don't understand bats, they are harmless but also fascinating creatures, but many people I've seem to be scared of them I've even heard them called "rats with wings"! All 17 bat species in the UK are under threat because of declining numbers

Outside of the UK, I've never seen them in the wild but it seems that wolves are misunderstood, as they are not usually dangerous unless provoked.

I think bats and wolves are universally misunderstood! Raptors can be misunderstood frequently, and farmers like to blame the big raptors for killing lambs and calves.

But bats do seem to be singled out. I think it's the 'curse of the vampire' myth. Even though only one bat (found in South America) is a blood obligate, somehow all other bats have gotten lumped in with that one. Of course, bats are very helpful creatures, a single bat eating hundreds of nasty insects in one night, and in some parts of the world, they are pollinators of various night blooming plants. In the US, however, they are vectors for rabies, and that earns them a poor reputation as well.

Kingfisher

I think that bats  must have the worst reputation. Nearly every bat picture one sees has them with the little mouths open showing teeth therefore alluding to the 'vampire' theory. Coupled with things that flap when they are flying can give most people a phobia.
The recent story about the bat box under the bridge thought to be a terrorist device did nothing for the bats reputation when described as 'blood sucking creatures' . Mentioning rabies also, they don't have a lot going for them.
I remember one coming to a nasty landing on the floor on a campsite in France but even I was not brave enough to put my hand under a plant trough to lift it back up.
So for me I'm afraid the bat is one of the most persecuted creatures in my eyes.

This post was last modified: 04-06-2007 02:36 PM by tibbar.

I think spiders are definitely misunderstood, with their long legs and the way they scuttle out of places suddenly. Even I admitt spiders scare me but they do so much good for us.
I once heard that if it weren't for spiders, the world would be overpopulated with flies. I don't know how true that is but what a horrible thought anyway.

This post was last modified: 04-06-2007 08:52 PM by sunshine.

Bats get my vote for the most misunderstood also, but spiders do seem to scare people for very little reason.

Bats get a bad reputation because of the possibility of rabies, but definitely the image of a blood sucking vampire bat that is told in many childrens horror stories is the main factor.

Well the vote for bats being misunderstood seems to win, with spiders and wolves in a close second! I have to say Xeract I've never read a childs story which included blood sucking bats, hasn't that stereotype come from adult movies more?

I can't believe no one has mentioned snakes! Many people are scared of them (I'm not sure I would react particularly well if I saw a dangerous one in the wild either) but in general they are quiet creatures who avoid confrontation. There are a few exceptions but they definitely don't deserve the bad reputation they have.

Sharks are also misunderstood. They are fascinating animals and only attack humans if they make a mistake, which I admit isn't much consolation for the victim, but does prove that they aren't "monsters".

I think snakes are misunderstood, and I'm sure Kingfisher will back us up on this! But I think there is a difference between being scared of it irrationally, and having respect for an animal. I have a lot of respect for snakes and sharks for example, but not an irrational fear of them.

Yes, sad to say, snakes are misunderstood, but they are not in the same league as those poor bats! Spiders, too, are misunderstood.

But I really think bats get the brunt of it.

Kingfisher

I am totally frightened of snakes. Having seen countless snakes as I grew up on Leith Hill, they instil in me total fear. However I will happily admit that only on one occasion did I hear of anyone being bitten, and that was her own fault as she tried to pick it up. So I have to say that I feel snakes are utterly misunderstood and portrayed as something they are really not.

After reading about hornets, they are the most misunderstood! I saw one several days ago and it just ignored me, but I can see why people would be scared of them, the do look like they could be very mean.

Many people also believe they are more dangerous than they really are, including me until recently.

Well that depends on wether you are allergic to a hornet sting or not?!? My auntie avoids them like the plague as if stung she'll go into anaphalactic shock (SP?) which believe me is not funny and potentially life threatening!

Hafta agree about the bats though - they don't do anyone any harm at all and are, as already mentioned, super bug killers!

Despite supposedly being a nation of animal lovers I would suggest that just about anything that doesn't have a cuddly, friendly appearance is a candidate for being misunderstood. I think that the biggest problem is that people love to give animals human traits (which in itself shows a major lack of understanding) and react badly when the animal behaves as... well, as an animal for which survival comes first second and third on its list of priorities.

My vote for the most misunderstood would be the wolf. At least all the others listed haven't been persecuted virtually out of existance.

I agree Timberwolf, people do tend to try and see animals as humans and judge their behavious by human standards. It's difficult to rememeber sometimes that animals only ever do what they have to.

In regards to hornets, I believe that the misconception that several stings could kill a human even if they weren't allergic to the sting comes from the Asian giant hornet which sting is much more dangerous than the kind we find in Britain.

The Asian hornet is slowly moving further North because of warmer climates, I heard that one has been sighted in Southern France already, so it may not be long before they appear in the UK.