Buzz
Animal behavior is a perfect example of a topic where many of us think we know more than we actually do. We often find ourselves wrong, whether because we failed to verify our sources or because humans have a tendency to project our own habits onto other species. Sometimes, it’s simply due to outdated information that was passed down from previous generations and has since been disproven.
Here are 10 animal behaviors that people often think they understand... only to be surprised by how incorrect they actually are.
10. Opossums Don’t “Play” Dead
Opossums may be loved by some and disliked by others, but there are two misconceptions about them that many people hold. First, the idea that English speakers are free to drop the first ‘o’ in their name, and second, the belief that they fake their deaths to ward off predators. While it's true that opossums do fall limp, with their tongues hanging out and sometimes releasing waste, they aren’t pretending to be dead. They simply collapse, appearing lifeless, which makes them unappealing to predators due to the smell. This behavior has been misunderstood for so long that the term ‘playing possum’ has become a widely used expression for feigning death.
The unfortunate reality is that these small creatures involuntarily enter a catatonic state when shocked. It’s almost as if they’re scared to the point of death. They can’t control it, and, even worse, they’re unable to snap out of this state for several minutes to several hours, no matter what is done to them. While their unpleasant odor may discourage most predators, opossums become helpless and unable to defend themselves against being moved, harmed, or even killed.
9. Raccoons Don’t Actually Wash Their Food
Raccoons are often seen carrying food to a water source to ‘wash’ it. However, these animals are not particular about hygiene. Instead, raccoons are highly tactile creatures. Their paws have four to five times more nerve endings than most mammals, allowing them to collect vast amounts of information by touching things. Wetting their paws enhances their sensory response, which is why they appear to ‘wash’ their food.
8. Not All Fireflies Are Searching for a Mate
Fireflies, belonging to the Lampyridae family, light up the night sky during summer. There are more than two thousand species of these tiny beetles. Although they may look similar to us, there are notable differences among them. We often assume that fireflies glow to attract mates, and for many species, this is indeed true. However, not all fireflies light up for this reason.
However, not all fireflies are out hunting in the same way at night. Some use their bioluminescent abilities to hunt prey, while others mimic mating signals from different species to lure unsuspecting fireflies, only to trap and consume them when they approach.
7. Ostriches Don’t Bury Their Heads in the Sand
We’ve all heard the phrase, “Don’t bury your head in the sand!” which suggests avoiding problems. In a case of bizarre anthropomorphism, humans have long believed that ostriches literally bury their heads in the sand when they’re scared.
Aside from the simple fact that they wouldn’t be able to breathe with their heads in the ground, ostriches aren’t foolish enough to think that ignoring danger will make it disappear. No prey animal that has survived as long as they have could possibly have such poor instincts!
In truth, what appears to be an ostrich sticking its head in the sand is actually the bird burying its beak in the ground to rotate its eggs a few times daily in their nests.
6. Lemmings Do Not Commit Mass Suicide
We are all familiar with the unsettling image of a lemming leaping off a cliff, followed by the rest of the group. However, like ostriches, lemmings don’t actually possess poor survival instincts. What they do experience is migration when their population becomes too dense.
During these migrations, they’ve been known to attempt crossing bodies of water that turn out to be too vast for them to swim across, resulting in many lemmings drowning. They have also been known to accidentally plunge off cliffs.
For years, their behavior and the corpses that resulted from these accidents were puzzling to humans, giving rise to false beliefs about lemmings falling from the sky, exploding, swimming until they drowned, or leaping off cliffs.
Perhaps the most famous of these misconceptions was perpetuated by the 1958 Walt Disney documentary White Wilderness.
5. Skunks Don’t Spray Every Time They Feel Threatened
Many people assume that skunks always spray larger animals when they're frightened, but that’s not the case. In truth, skunks are very selective about using their spray. They try to avoid releasing their scent glands as much as possible, since the fluid they produce is limited and takes a while to replenish. A skunk can spray up to six times before needing a two-week period to recharge its glands. During this time, the skunk becomes especially vulnerable. Thus, they will use any other tactic to escape danger before resorting to spraying.
Interestingly, skunks give us a warning before spraying by performing what looks like a specific dance. This behavior may involve stomping on the ground or even doing handstands, depending on the species. Though it may seem like a 'warning dance' to us, it’s actually the skunk’s way of trying to intimidate us. And this tactic works on anyone who knows what they’re doing!
4. Cats Always Land on Their Feet
Cats are incredible acrobats, capable of jumping and balancing with ease. Their remarkable ability to right themselves during a fall is aided by their whiskers, which are not only located on their faces but also on the backs of their legs. These whiskers help cats maintain their balance and orientation in mid-air.
However, cats don’t always manage to land on their feet. It’s a fantastic evolutionary skill, but it’s not foolproof. If a cat falls from a very short distance and doesn’t have the time or ability to correct its position, or if it is overweight, it could experience a dangerous fall, leading to injury or even death. Apartment cat owners should make sure to keep their windows closed to avoid such accidents.
3. Pandas Are Excellent at Mating—In Their Natural Habitat
Giant pandas are often kept in captivity as part of efforts to protect the species from extinction. These cuddly creatures have peculiar eating habits—mostly consuming bamboo, which provides them with very little nutrition. In fact, they need to eat up to eighty-four pounds of bamboo a day. Despite being adorable, pandas have earned a reputation for struggling to survive in the wild.
Ironically, giant pandas rarely mate in captivity. The females are only fertile for a very short period, and when placed together in controlled environments, neither the males nor the females seem particularly interested in mating. The surprising truth is that, in the wild, pandas have no such libido issues. In fact, it’s almost comical (and somewhat tragic) just how much mating they do...
While this doesn't mean pandas would thrive without human intervention, it does highlight how humans mistakenly assume that simply putting a male and female of any species together will automatically lead to reproduction.
2. The Alpha Wolf Doesn't Dominate the Pack
It was once believed that wolves (and by extension, dogs) battled for dominance, with the strongest male or female assuming leadership. However, recent studies have proven this belief to be false.
In truth, the pack leader is usually just the most successful breeder, having the most offspring in the group. Wolves and dogs tend to follow their parents because they understand the idea of 'father/mother knows best.'
What's even more fascinating is that many so-called wolf 'packs' are actually just family units. In these cases, the 'alpha' doesn't need to outbreed anyone—they simply lead because they are the parent.
1. Cats Don't Play with Their Prey
A common myth about cats is that they play with their prey. For example, when domestic cats hunt mice, they toss them around as if they were toys. However, the reality is the opposite: they treat their toys the same way they handle their prey; for many predators, playtime is actually a form of hunting practice.
So why do cats toss their food instead of simply killing and eating it? The reason is simple: cats are highly specialized predators. While they are efficient killing machines from their prey’s point of view, if something goes wrong, they could easily be injured or killed. As a result, they must be extremely careful in their hunting techniques and avoid risks of getting scratched or bitten.
For example, cat owners will notice that the mice their cats bring home rarely die from a bite but almost always from a broken spine. This occurs because the cat flicks the mouse with its paw, killing it without getting too close and risking injury.
