# Which animals are evil, which animals are good? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 14, 2005, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230 "2005-06-14T16:13:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230/101 "2005-06-16T10:42:11Z")
Oh, and Canada geese are _pure_ evil. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230/102 "2005-06-16T12:28:35Z")
Canada geese are so evil there is special subgroup of evil just for them. Praire dogs are good. ---
**Author:** ![matt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@matt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230/103 "2005-06-16T14:55:31Z")
Candiru are evil. So are yellowjacket wasps. I’m sure they just fly along thinking - “I’m going to sting something!” Cats are nice. Death said so, and he sees the big picture. Groundhogs are well documented to be both evil and nazis. Butterflies are evil. They cause hurricanes. “My Little Pony” is definitely evil. ---
**Author:** ![Scupper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Scupper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scupper)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230/104 "2005-06-16T18:08:04Z")
Evil: Black Widows - they pretty much flaunt how evil they are, by hanging upside-down in their webs, showing off their little red hourglasses. And when they walk, they do a little dance of evil. Fire Ants - No number of mentions can possibly ascribe enough evil to these vile and awful creatures. One of the few creatures I’d be willing to say the world would be much better off without. Any other ants - They have very little to recommend them, but they are a part of the food chain and all that and not quite as bad as their satanic fire bretheren mentioned above. Still, how can an animal that invades your house when it rains to get away from the water and invades it when it’s dry to find water be anything but a cruel and evil prank courtesy of satan himself? Mosquitos - They suck blood AND spread parasites. Two evils for the price of one. Plus, the itching. Venemous Snakes - Except the sea snake. Mice - They gnaw, they stink, and they breed faster than rabbits. There is nothing good about mice unless you happen to be a snake. Sea Monkeys - What a gyp. Ticks - Ick. Double ick. Fleas - See ticks, above, but with less burrowing into skin. Chiggers - Give fire ants a run for their money. All the worst traits of mosquitos, plus volume, volume, volume! Lampreys - Tied with hagfish for the Most Awfulest Fish award. Octopi - They are the smartest invertibrates – “smart invertibrate” being two words you don’t ever want describing anything. They can open peanut butter jars and do other problem-solving things, and change colors, none of which are cute when done by an eight-tentacled bag of pus. Good: Pugs - No other dog is quite so Good as the pug, with the possible exception of the Boston Terrier and French Bulldog, both of which are practically honorary pugs, anyway. Sea Snakes - They are super poisonous, yet not aggressive. That’s very zen. Chinchillas - All the good qualities of rabbits, plus an entertainingly bizarre grooming method (they spin rapidly in volcanic ash, preferably in a small fishbowl.) Echidnas - You have to feel sorry for them. They’re monotremes, but didn’t get a kid-friendly name like “platypus.” Instead, they sound like some kind of skin disorder. (“My echidna’s acting up again, Marge. Where’s the salve?”) Cool: Komodo Dragons - And monitors in general. Can’t qualify as “good” because of a number of traits, including bacteria-laden saliva so nasty it will kill you, and a preference for carrion and spoiled eggs. But they’re humongous, and look hysterical when they run or swim. Sharks - Evil, but bitchin. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230/105 "2005-06-17T15:01:55Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Canada geese are so evil there is special subgroup of evil just for them. > > Praire dogs are good. If by prairie dogs you mean gophers, then you would be incorrect. Gophers are evil. Ask any farmer. ---
**Author:** ![Scupper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Scupper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scupper)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230/106 "2005-06-17T16:10:12Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > If by prairie dogs you mean gophers, then you would be incorrect. Gophers are evil. Ask any farmer. I’m not sure, but I would hazard a guess that by prairie dogs, she meant prairie dogs. That said, I would agree that gophers are, in fact, evil. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230/107 "2005-06-18T16:34:38Z")
> [@Scupper](#): > > I’m not sure, but I would hazard a guess that by prairie dogs, she meant prairie dogs. > > That said, I would agree that gophers are, in fact, evil. Okay, we have gophers here (or more properly, [Richardson’s Ground Squirrels](http://people.uleth.ca/~michener/main.htm)), not prairie dogs. Prairie dogs are cousins to gophers, apparently. It sounds like they are evil, too. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230/108 "2005-06-18T16:39:24Z")
Dang it, hit submit too fast. Gophers (sorry, ground squirrels) and prairie dogs can carry bubonic plague - if that doesn’t move them into the “evil” category, I don’t know what does. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230/109 "2005-06-18T16:48:31Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > As much as I admire them, Wolverines must go down as evil. They soil what is left of their kill so nothing else will eat it. There’s an X-Men story I do NOT want to read! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230/110 "2005-06-19T02:31:18Z")
the most evil creature of all is the dreaded Black Canyon Squirrels of Supai, AZ. I once personally saw a 4 foot tall canyon squirrel untie the rope which secured our food, lower the bags to the ground, and then complain that we didn’t have more M&Ms. Frankly, we were lucky to get out of there alive. Bo ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230/111 "2005-06-19T02:51:28Z")
> [@Scupper](#): > > Evil: > Octopi - They are the smartest invertibrates – “smart invertibrate” being two words you don’t ever want describing anything. They can open peanut butter jars and do other problem-solving things, and change colors, none of which are cute when done by an eight-tentacled bag of pus. (eyes fill with tears) But they’re _wonderful_. I adore octopuseses. And don’t forget that they can run on two tentacles, also. Woodchucks are indeed evil, but I’m happy to report that I’m a card-carrying member of the local Woodchuck Slayers association. I got one with my car, once 🙂 Goldfish are good. Cows are good. ---
**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230/112 "2005-06-19T07:11:08Z")
Yellow jackets are evil aggressive monsters who are also cannibals. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230/113 "2005-06-19T16:32:28Z")
Hey - so are the ground squirrels! Evil, evil, evil. ---
**Author:** ![Elmo\_Lincoln](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Elmo\_Lincoln](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmo_Lincoln)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230/114 "2005-06-22T12:45:46Z")
Good: tantor, manu, the mangani in general with a few exceptions (i’m looking at you Kerchak and Terkoz). Evil: bolgani, histah, numa, sabor, sheeta, gimla Good to eat: bara, horta. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230/115 "2005-06-22T13:03:06Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > Cats are always good in my humble opinion, but they definitely have great potential for evil. I’m not sure what the OP is exactly asking. I assumed it was more about the usual representation than about our own personnal feelings. For instance I like crows, but indeed, in the western tradition at least (contrarily to some amerindian, germanic, celtic,…myths) , they’re normally negatively connoted. And cats quite often symbolize evil things, are associated with the devil, appear in horror movies, etc… ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230/116 "2005-06-22T13:09:28Z")
> [@CateAyo](#): > > For example, and owl is the bringer of bad news and bad luck, for lack of a better term, for my people. ) Over here, owls traditionnally announce death. They were crucified on the barns’ doors to repell evil or bad omens (I don’t know if it was an european tradition in general, or specifically a french one). ---
**Author:** ![Scupper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Scupper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scupper)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230/117 "2005-06-22T14:56:53Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > And cats quite often symbolize evil things, are associated with the devil, appear in horror movies, etc… Jamie Lee Curtis often appears in horror movies, but you wouldn’t call _her_ evil, would you? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230/118 "2005-06-22T19:49:14Z")
> [@Scupper](#): > > Jamie Lee Curtis often appears in horror movies, but you wouldn’t call _her_ evil, would you? Well, not to her face. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2005, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230/119 "2005-06-24T16:19:54Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Robert E. Howard, writing in a Lovecraftian vein, implied that another bird was evil in the short story “Pigeons From Hell” (I kid you not). Having spent a lot of time in NYC, I can agree. Actually, they weren’t evil per se, they were simply harbingers of evil. In the story, when the pigeons showed up, hilarity did NOT ensue. PfH was made into one of the best episodes ever on the old THRILLER Tv show hosted by Boris Karloff. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2005, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230/120 "2005-06-24T16:27:42Z")
Many Native Americans don’t love the Owl. I think all insects are evil. But what about me? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-are-evil-which-animals-are-good/308230.md?page=7)