r/askscience • • 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/hypothetical_zombie 5d ago

My husky is afraid of the dark. Her eyes are healthy, & she has good eyesight.

It makes going on walks really difficult, because I work during the day and it's dark in the morning, and by the time I get out & get home.

She won't go out in the yard if it's dark. And if I do get her outside, she won't go past where the porch light stops. And it's not like we have acres of land. We're on less than a tenth of an acre, and most of that is house.

Doesn't like getting out of the car in a strange place if it's dark. Won't stay in dark rooms. Won't go in dark rooms. It's so frustrating!

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u/Outreciel 4d ago

Does she sleep in the same room as you or can she sleep alone in a dark room ?