The REAL Misunderstood Animal

Ok, before anyone BAWWs or whines at me, I want to get one thing clear-

I don't think snakes are better than wolves, nor do I think wolves are better than snakes. No animal is "superior" to any other animal. Each creature has its own advantages and disadvantages. Now, I may like a certain animal more than another, but that doesn't mean I find that animal "better" than others.

With that in mind, rant time!

One thing that bugs a lot of people (myself included) is how Wolfaboos love to "BAWWW" about how their precious Canis lupis is "deh moist mysundastuud aminal an urth!".

Um...no, no. Sorry, but, it's not. Now, yes, there have been some misconceptions regarding wolves that are no longer accepted as fact (IE: Wolves are not mindless evil killers). That being said, our understanding of wolves and what they really are has greatly changed to the point where they're one of the LEAST misunderstood animals in the world (IE: We now (at least the sane of us out there) know that wolves are simply predatory canines that should be treated with the same respect and caution as with any wild predator).

Sadly, the same cannot be said for another animal. One that has been and is still far more misunderstood than the wolf.

The snake.

Even today, snakes are still regarded as evil in many cultures. Unlike wolves, which have the advantage of being related to dogs and therefore having the same qualities we find appealing, snakes have an unsual appearance. Their scaly skin, unblinking eyes, and lack of limbs makes them unsettling in appearance to people. Likewise, is the way they hunt. Many species of snake use constriction to kill their prey, literally squeezing the life out of them until the prey either dies of asphyxiation or from internal bleeding from blood vessels being ruptured.

Sadly, because of this, snakes are still portrayed as literal and metaphorical cold-blooded monsters. In the Judeo-Christian mythos, the snake is associated with the devil and evil in general. Snakes in TV shows and movies are shown as slimy ruthless monsters who only want to deceive the protagonist for personal gain, or they are shown as mindless eating machines devouring anyone or anything they can get their hands...erm...coils on. Very rarely is a snake portrayed as a heroic character.

To make matters worse, people have been known to delibrately run over snakes crossing roads and highways...sometimes doing so several times. Likewise are the "rattlesnake roundups", an event where thousands of rattlesnakes deprived of food and water before being slaughtered. This isn't the same as regulated hunting for food or population control. This is taking an animal from its habitat and essentially ABUSING it before killing it. Sadly, these events are still legal in several states.


People, snakes are not "cold blooded killers", they are not "evil slimy beasts", nor are they "the devil incarnate". Snakes are just wild animals. Nothing more, nothing less. They are amazing predators that deserve the same respect and care any animal deserves. If you leave a snake alone, it will leave you alone. Simple as that.


This drawing belongs to me.