# Is an apex predator like a killer whale capable of a fear reaction as an adult? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 8, 2012, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-an-apex-predator-like-a-killer-whale-capable-of-a-fear-reaction-as-an-adult/627647 "2012-07-08T23:17:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-an-apex-predator-like-a-killer-whale-capable-of-a-fear-reaction-as-an-adult/627647/21 "2012-07-09T23:35:29Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > There is a class of animals which clearly have no fear response to possible predation – those which evolved on islands or other isolated areas where there were no predators. Georg Wilhelm Steller, shipwrecked with Vitus Bering, wrote about the little blue foxes that plagued the crew. It took the men a long time, and a great deal of very nasty effort, to teach the foxes to fear the men. At first, the foxes just jumped right up and nipped at them, without the slightest hint of fear, even to the point of biting one man in the masculine member when the man unzipped the tent to urinate outside it. Noises and other displays had no effect on the foxes. It took actual infliction of physical violence. Of course, this is something humans excel at… ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-an-apex-predator-like-a-killer-whale-capable-of-a-fear-reaction-as-an-adult/627647/22 "2012-07-10T14:52:56Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Georg Wilhelm Steller, shipwrecked with Vitus Bering, wrote about the little blue foxes that plagued the crew. It took the men a long time, and a great deal of very nasty effort, to teach the foxes to fear the men. At first, the foxes just jumped right up and nipped at them, without the slightest hint of fear, even to the point of biting one man in the masculine member when the man unzipped the tent to urinate outside it. Noises and other displays had no effect on the foxes. It took actual infliction of physical violence. > > Of course, this is something humans excel at… They probably thought of them as seals, unable to easily reach or swat anything small and agile. Again, they need to put evolution to work and select for skittish. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-an-apex-predator-like-a-killer-whale-capable-of-a-fear-reaction-as-an-adult/627647/23 "2012-07-10T15:01:58Z")
If apex babies don’t have a fear response they are less likely to grow into apex predators. What they fear is going to vary, but an animal with no fear response would be suicidal. Still, many animals are likely to be driven by hormonal surges, and the fear response may not save them from self destructive behavior. Just go visit the La Brea tarpits. The enormous amount of predator skeletons found show that all the screams and moans of dying predators and prey don’t stop them from going after the tar baby. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2012, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-an-apex-predator-like-a-killer-whale-capable-of-a-fear-reaction-as-an-adult/627647/24 "2012-07-11T07:03:48Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > If apex babies don’t have a fear response they are less likely to grow into apex predators. What they fear is going to vary, but an animal with no fear response would be suicidal. Still, many animals are likely to be driven by hormonal surges, and the fear response may not save them from self destructive behavior. Just go visit the La Brea tarpits. The enormous amount of predator skeletons found show that all the screams and moans of dying predators and prey don’t stop them from going after the tar baby. Wow… that was a long way to Tipperary. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-an-apex-predator-like-a-killer-whale-capable-of-a-fear-reaction-as-an-adult/627647.md?page=1)