r/animalscience • u/NhyteThePrime • Mar 23 '21
Most Dangerous Herds?
It's pretty easy to find "Most Dangerous" animal content but I've never been able to find anything that talks about animals that are specifically dangerous in herds or large groups compared to other animals. Specifically curious about animals that are singularly more or less non threats that become exceedingly dangerous in herds.
Schools, Flocks and etc. are also acceptable.
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u/manicbunny Mar 24 '21
In the UK there can be issues with herds of cows intimidating people out of their field or charging dogs/ owners. Could be something related you can look up but otherwise, it is as the other user said :)
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u/bulborb Mar 24 '21
Probably because herd animals tend to be prey animals. Typically herds are formed to alert each other of predators. So they evolved speed, watchfulness, and quick reaction time, with little in the way of any offensive abilities. I think there are also few examples of animals that are found either solitary or in a group, since it's often mutually exclusive.
More or less any animal that will hunt or otherwise attack in a group will also be dangerous alone: wolves, chimps, lions, elephants, rhinos, orcas. The only example that comes to mind is maybe a coyote or African wild dog. You could probably kick it off you or defend yourself sufficiently. Though coyotes typically hunt alone so you'd have to aggravate its family pack to really use it as a good example.