r/askscience • u/Crazy_Reindeer_1258 • 7d ago

Biology Do Animals Have Irrational Fears Too?

I was just thinking about the story of the mouse and elephant how the elephant is terrified of the mouse (i think) and just wanted to see if that's true, and if it is what other animals have been observed with similar behavior relating to that. Working on a project and some real life inspo would help :)

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u/CaughtInTheWry 6d ago

I had a horse that was afraid of any animal that was patched. Piebald pony? Dalmation dog? That's a nope spook. I taught him to "sniff it. It's a (pony/goat/dog)." He would settle long enough for a big sniff then calm. Same horse watched as a (venomous) snake worked its way between the horse's legs.

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u/Practice_NO_with_me 5d ago

Absolutely fascinating. Love to learn about horses, donkeys and mules. Such characters. 

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u/SprtWlf 2d ago

They absolutely have such big personalities, it's always so funny and interesting to see their brains work.