Unpopular and Maligned Animals

Cin · 12-09-2011, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by popcorninthesofa

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?

Glenn · 12-09-2011, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Tick

Did it have a favorite show?

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

kannon · 12-09-2011, 12:12 PM

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.

Elijah · 12-09-2011, 12:16 PM

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

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

Nat · 12-10-2011, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kannon

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.

Ah yes, gnats, the bane of my existence from preschool through adolescence. Thanks for the reminder.

The JD · 12-09-2011, 12:20 PM

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.

Sassy · 12-09-2011, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The JD

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.

*squeals!!!* ick ick ick ick!!!! oh, I had a nasty run-in with one of these ugly buggers recently. My li'l dog got hold of one in the backyard around midnight one night... ok, good puppy, protectin' Mama from the overgrown rat... but... ick ick ick ick!!!! it STANK and I was SO glad the dog's shots were up to date ... Funny thing though... I thought she'd killed it. I hauled the dog off the possum and ran in the house ranting the whole way about having to deal with possum remains in the middle of the night and it cold and wet outside.......... erm, possums "play possum" when they're scared..... when I walked back outside to assess the situation the critter had disappeared.......... so the one good thing I can so for 'em, is I haven't had to bury one yet. *laughs!* .....

Gemme · 12-09-2011, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starryeyes

I have a pet ferret named Smokey. I live in California where they are illegal and not of the norm. When I tell people about him, people always freak. They say ferrets are "baby killers" and will chew the fingers and noses off babies. I don't understand where this comes from. My ferret sleeps in his hammock all day, plays with my dogs, snuggles with me, watches me take a shower (lol) and is just a pleasant little cutie. Are these "baby killer" rumors true?? I have never seen anything in print that would justify them.

Cats also have this stigma. They are rumored to steal the breath of newborn babies.

http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/catsuck.asp

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apocalipstic

I am moved to hear that rats have empathy.

So cute.

I recently learned armadillos carry Leprosy...I had no idea. With the weather changes they are arriving in TN in larger numbers now.

Possums do creep me out, I admit. One lives behind our apartment and my roommate screams her head off every time it peers in our window. Big Butch girl meltdowns crack me UP!

Bugs? Our once every 13 year cicada infestations creep me out, but individual bugs I just leave alone mostly. After living in South America and Texas, our TN bugs seem kind of insignificant.

A coworker had a pet praying mantis until it flew off a d a bird ate it.

I had a praying mantis! She was awesome. She was quiet and required little care and Hell, any creature that rips the heads off of its mate is kind of cool in my book, not that I recommend that for us humans.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiverBoi

Bats would fit into this category. I personally think that they are kinda cute.

AND I love the fact that they eat mosquito's (which is a WONDERFUL friend to have in the south) Bat's eat around 250,000 pounds of insects a night. I suppose many people are scared of them due to rabies or Ozzy lol. I haven't heard of a rabid bat swarm, targeting humans however.

http://articles.latimes.com/1994-02-...17_1_bat-house

http://blog.liveattheorchard.com/fil...ustin-bats.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by kannon

It's a baby gargoyle! Okay, not really but it does kind of look like it.

kannon · 12-09-2011, 11:49 PM

this was my most feared creature as a child

Somehow I always managed to have a stare off or a show down with one. They could sense the fear in me. I was frozen with fear. And it always, always ended with them JUMPIN. I never saw them land. I just assumed they were in full on attack mode and jumped on me to start their physical assault. My reaction was to run screaming to my mom and have her do a full body search.

SoNotHer · 12-10-2011, 12:21 AM

Love these. They make me smile every time I seem them, especially if they jump.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kannon

this was my most feared creature as a child

Somehow I always managed to have a stare off or a show down with one. They could sense the fear in me. I was frozen with fear. And it always, always ended with them JUMPIN. I never saw them land. I just assumed they were in full on attack mode and jumped on me to start their physical assault. My reaction was to run screaming to my mom and have her do a full body search.

Jett · 12-11-2011, 03:04 PM

Cin · 12-11-2011, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jett

And he rocks. Who knew bats self stim. I had a few in my life but none that did.

That might be the cutest bat ever.

SoNotHer · 12-11-2011, 05:01 PM

This is one of the most amazing and frankly hopeful things I have seen in a while. Thank you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jett

Novelafemme · 12-13-2011, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jett

The girls and I watched this video 4 times in a row and now we all want a baby bat to hang on our finger and rock himself to sleep. That video melts me!

always2late · 12-13-2011, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jett

Now I have to see if there is a local bat sanctuary and go volunteer! I want to rock baby bats too!

Cin · 12-09-2011, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by popcorninthesofa

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

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

12-09-2011, 12:16 PM	#4
Elijah Member How Do You Identify?: Genderqueer Butch Preferred Pronoun?: Masculine ones Relationship Status: Open to healthy possibilities... Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 554 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 738 Thanked 1,629 Times in 393 Posts Rep Power: 21474851	We can't forget the ever popular Spider This guy writes a very funny blog about his spider experiences.. http://jeffvrabel.com/2011/07/19/im-...mediately-why/ __________________ "There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness but of power. They are messengers of overwhelming grief and of unspeakable love." ~Washington Irving

12-09-2011, 12:20 PM	#6
The JD Be the Fearless Bunny How Do You Identify?: Hers. Preferred Pronoun?: he Relationship Status: Medusa’s Snake Charmer Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: This must be the place. Posts: 649 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,740 Thanked 2,677 Times in 540 Posts Rep Power: 21474851	Possum 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 don't deserve any credit for turning the other cheek as my tongue is always in it. ~Flannery O'Connor

12-09-2011, 11:49 PM	#9
kannon Member How Do You Identify?: bloke Preferred Pronoun?: He Relationship Status: Happy is the heart that believes in angels Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Land of Milk and Honey Posts: 884 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,920 Thanked 2,067 Times in 584 Posts Rep Power: 21474851	this was my most feared creature as a child Somehow I always managed to have a stare off or a show down with one. They could sense the fear in me. I was frozen with fear. And it always, always ended with them JUMPIN. I never saw them land. I just assumed they were in full on attack mode and jumped on me to start their physical assault. My reaction was to run screaming to my mom and have her do a full body search. __________________ Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken.

12-11-2011, 03:04 PM	#11
Jett Member How Do You Identify?: Hardcore bullheaded grown-ass Tomboy Preferred Pronoun?: She Relationship Status: she loves my shaggy hair Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: The backroom of a night cafe plotting world domination Posts: 1,028 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,054 Thanked 3,299 Times in 568 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	__________________ .......... In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer. ~Albert Camus

12-09-2011, 12:12 PM	#3
kannon Member How Do You Identify?: bloke Preferred Pronoun?: He Relationship Status: Happy is the heart that believes in angels Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Land of Milk and Honey Posts: 884 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,920 Thanked 2,067 Times in 584 Posts Rep Power: 21474851	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.