Vampires and Animals

Moonlight — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 13:00:28 +0000

Believe it or not animals and vampires have a big part in vampire folklore. Sometimes it’s simply the malevolent vampire controlling the animal, making it carry out his evil deeds, or it’s the animal itself that is the bloodsucker.

According to the vampire-crazed gypsies in Yugoslavia damn near anyone or anything can become a creature of the night aka vampire. On their list of possible vampires they have dogs, cats, horses, sheep and even… chickens. Can you imagine a vampire chicken? Pretty ridiculous. But out of all these vampire animals the one that they were the most fearful of were vampire snakes due to Satan’s ties to snakes.

Then you have the tradition that says if a certain animal, like a cat or dog, jumps over a corpse then that body will turn into a vampire. Or some other stories saying that if the dog or cat jumps over the corpse the soul of the person will then enter the animal.

You also have the belief that some vampires can control an assortment of animals like wolves, flies, cats, dogs, butterflies, and the well known vampire bat. But it’s not always that they can control animals, some tales say that they can also transform into the animal, especially bats, but also rats and even frogs.

Animals can be used against vampire as well. Horses were once used to find the grave of a vampire, while black dogs and black crows were said to make excellent vampire hunters. And Romanian gypsies believed that some cemeteries were guarded by vampire killing white wolves. So animals can be pretty useful for the vampire hunters.

Now when you come across a growling dog or a snake in the grass you’ll probably wonder if it’s a vampire or if it’s a wicked creature being controlled by a vampire. Who knows for sure. But if you wake up one night with your pet cat Fluffy sitting on your chest, staring at you with glowing eyes you better hope it’s kitty kibble it wants… and not your blood.

- Moonlight

Vampires in Nature

veritas — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:31:32 +0000

In the scientific study of animals, and insects, vampirism is also used in reference to mosquitos, leeches, vampire bats, of course, mistletoe, and other parasitic creatures surviving on tissues and fluids of other living creatures. Blood is a tissue fluid; just like the meat that other animals feed on, as well as human being, blood is rich in proteins, and lipids. Many smaller animals and insects, as well as worms, have evolved to a point where feeding off of the blood is preferred, or even essential to their survival. Sometimes, this can become a harmful process; such as with mosquitoes that spread malaria. Other species, such as vampire bats, who rarely spread disease, or leeches which will cleanse the blood, and are used for medical purposes, –are neutral, and can even benefit mankind.

An example of an animal with the obligatory need for blood is the assassin bug, found in South America. They insert a needle-like proboscis into their prey, –other insects, such as cockroaches and beetles, –and it liquefies their insides, so that the assassin bug can drink them, with its very own built in straw. It’s mainly thought to be beneficial, and is kept as a pet for insect control. However, if owners do not handle the insect carefully, they may be bitten, and the bite is said to be extremely painful. Also, there is a minimal risk of being infected with a potentially fatal illness called “Chagas disease.” If the assassin bug is indigenous to your area, it’s best to leave it alone.

An example of the optional need to drink blood is the mosquito. That’s right! Those horrible little creatures can feed off of pollen, fruit juices, and other biological liquids (some really, really gross ones too) that are not blood. Also, sometimes only the females will drink blood, since its essential for her reproductive system. Other examples of blood drinkers found in nature are nematodes, and other creepy crawlers, such as parasitic worms, found in human and animal intestines.

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Vampires and Animals

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Vampires in Nature

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