# All animals on earth versus all people on earth - who would win? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 21, 2006, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-animals-on-earth-versus-all-people-on-earth-who-would-win/381226 "2006-11-21T01:19:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-animals-on-earth-versus-all-people-on-earth-who-would-win/381226/1 "2006-11-21T01:19:32Z")
Since sophomore year of high school, my friends and I have joked about a fictional movie that we fantasized about filming. The concept is that of an all-out war between people and animals. ALL animals would be included - birds, insects, domestic pets, fish, livestock, wildlife, everything. Bacteria and simple organisms wouldn’t count. The animals would still be preying on each other for food, but they would all be allied against mankind. If this conflict actually happened, who would eventually win? My money’s on the animals. And yes, I know that humans are animals. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-animals-on-earth-versus-all-people-on-earth-who-would-win/381226/2 "2006-11-21T01:23:04Z")
How good a tactician are all these animals? Take mosquitoes. They could really screw people up with malaria, equine encephalitis, and other things if they knew how to plan. What would mosquitoes do that they don’t do now. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-animals-on-earth-versus-all-people-on-earth-who-would-win/381226/3 "2006-11-21T01:26:07Z")
With climate change being as it is, I think we’re winning so far. ---
**Author:** ![Gridnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ee59a6/32.png) [@Gridnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gridnak)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-animals-on-earth-versus-all-people-on-earth-who-would-win/381226/4 "2006-11-21T01:32:48Z")
Wasn’t there a Sci-Fi trilogy based on just this premise? Death World? Death Planet? Something like that. As I recall, the book went farther and even the plants were attacking the people. (_googles_…Ah, there it is: Deathworld by Harry Harrison - not a bad read as I recall, but I always liked his Stainless Steel Rat stuff better). ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-animals-on-earth-versus-all-people-on-earth-who-would-win/381226/5 "2006-11-21T01:40:39Z")
It’ll depend a lot on how the war starts. If all of the animals just suddenly decide at the same moment that Humans Must Die, without any warning, then we’re toast. A cat or a dog is quite capable of killing a sleeping human, if it were for some reason to decide to. And at any given moment, about a third of the planet’s population is asleep. If one third of all pet owners (a significant fraction of all people) in the world died overnight, human society would probably crumple on its own, without any further attacks by the fuzzy contingent. Then, too, if we go by the standard of winning of “last critter standing”, they’re sure to win, since we can’t win. Sure, we’ve managed to kill off quite a few species, some without even trying. But there are also some species that we’ve tried diligently to kill off, and haven’t succeeded. When the blood’s all shed and the dust has settled, I don’t know who will be lying slain on the field of battle. But I do know that it won’t be the cockroaches. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-animals-on-earth-versus-all-people-on-earth-who-would-win/381226/6 "2006-11-21T01:43:18Z")
It may depend on the ability of animals to collaborate and their willingness to self sacrifice. Their best shot for a first strike would be for our livestock to commit suicide (starvation, dehydration or self inury), and every animal stop eating insects. The second wave would be those insects and rodents and the like eating our crops. A few months after the food supplies are gone, just move in the big guns, lions, tigers and bears, oh my… ---
**Author:** ![Gridnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ee59a6/32.png) [@Gridnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gridnak)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-animals-on-earth-versus-all-people-on-earth-who-would-win/381226/7 "2006-11-21T01:43:22Z")
[QUOTE=Gridnak] Wasn’t there a Sci-Fi trilogy based on just this premise? Death World? Death Planet? Something like that. As I recall, the book went farther and even the plants were attacking the people. (_googles_…Ah, there it is: Deathworld by Harry Harrison - not a bad read as I recall, but I always liked his Stainless Steel Rat stuff better). [/QUOTE] As I further recall, this wasn’t Earth it was some colony so it’s not an exact match - much more limited resources and population. To actually answer the question, I’d have to go with us. Technology triumphs over fangs (and stingers and teeth, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-animals-on-earth-versus-all-people-on-earth-who-would-win/381226/8 "2006-11-21T01:44:40Z")
Not really a General Question. Let’s try IMHO. **samclem** ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-animals-on-earth-versus-all-people-on-earth-who-would-win/381226/9 "2006-11-21T01:50:45Z")
[QUOTE=Gridnak] Wasn’t there a Sci-Fi trilogy based on just this premise? Death World? Death Planet? Something like that. As I recall, the book went farther and even the plants were attacking the people. (_googles_…Ah, there it is: Deathworld by Harry Harrison - not a bad read as I recall, but I always liked his Stainless Steel Rat stuff better). [/QUOTE] Thanks for reminding me of that. It was a trilogy, no? One was the “psi” planet, one was the beach slavers/Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, last one was… nope. Help me, that was s series to read again. That idea may have a tread in it. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-animals-on-earth-versus-all-people-on-earth-who-would-win/381226/10 "2006-11-21T01:50:53Z")
Which side would Batman be on? ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-animals-on-earth-versus-all-people-on-earth-who-would-win/381226/11 "2006-11-21T02:23:19Z")
Nuke the site from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-animals-on-earth-versus-all-people-on-earth-who-would-win/381226/12 "2006-11-21T08:03:09Z")
Neither. During all the commotion would be the perfect time for **the machines** to take over. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-animals-on-earth-versus-all-people-on-earth-who-would-win/381226/13 "2006-11-21T11:43:26Z")
[QUOTE=JThunder] Which side would Batman be on? [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Gorsnak] Nuke the site from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure. [/QUOTE] D’oh, the standard quips I was itching to post myself 😛 ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-animals-on-earth-versus-all-people-on-earth-who-would-win/381226/14 "2006-11-21T18:21:50Z")
The animals would win hands down. Hell, I get concerned about just the ants around my house rebelling against me. There are some factors that would contribute to just how quickly they would win: - are they cognizant of which animals are the most lethal to humans ? - are they focused on killing (and not the normal killing for eating) ? (not the “if we pull this off, we’ll eat like kings” attitude) - are the different species organized ? would different species be able to communicate to coordinate attacks ? ---
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-animals-on-earth-versus-all-people-on-earth-who-would-win/381226/15 "2006-11-21T18:43:54Z")
Is there a declaration of war or do we just notice animals are now more likely to attack? If we know it’s coming, I’m sure we could get a stalemate. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-animals-on-earth-versus-all-people-on-earth-who-would-win/381226/16 "2006-11-21T19:42:01Z")
I note that if humans kill all animals (or even a large fraction of them) we have poor prospects ourselves. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-animals-on-earth-versus-all-people-on-earth-who-would-win/381226/17 "2006-11-21T20:11:56Z")
If just the insects started to attack us on sight, organization or no, instead of just biting us when we piss them off - well, it would definately kill a lot of people and start a huge panic, whether we survived long-term or not. You’d haul out your duct tape and plastic sheeting and still not keep those bastards out without suffocating yourself. Ever have ants? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-animals-on-earth-versus-all-people-on-earth-who-would-win/381226/18 "2006-11-22T05:47:14Z")
We could handle the elephants, tigers and stuff like that. If the bugs are in on the deal, we’re toast. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-animals-on-earth-versus-all-people-on-earth-who-would-win/381226/19 "2006-11-22T13:06:52Z")
What **JCOM** said. If Fire Ants get involved:::::::::::::::::::::::::_shudder_:::::::::::::::::::::::::: ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-animals-on-earth-versus-all-people-on-earth-who-would-win/381226/20 "2006-11-22T13:21:44Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] IA cat or a dog is quite capable of killing a sleeping human, if it were for some reason to decide to. [/QUOTE] A dog maybe (and only some dogs at that). A cat? I’m not so sure. I’m fairly certain an enraged domestic cat could totally ruin a sleeping human’s day, but to actually _kill_ them? I’d assume an average domestic cat with a desire to kill me would go for my neck. My neck is big and the cat’s mouth is small. I’d be awake in no time, and kitty would be thrown against the far wall a second later. I’m sure I’d be gouged, bleeding, sorry, and bruised (possibly even blinded), but I doubt I’d be killed that easily. I’m not ignorant of the sheer speed and violence of an enraged animal attack, but I’m many, many times larger than a domestic cat, and the cat would want to make the first strike absolutely textbook perfect to even stand the remotest chance. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-animals-on-earth-versus-all-people-on-earth-who-would-win/381226.md?page=2)