Random Facts About Animals That You Have Completely Wrong Thanks To Movies And TV (12 items)

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  (#1) Shark

  • Animal

  The Myth: Anyone who watched Jaws learned about sharks' sense of smell. According to movies, the water-bound animals are able to sense a single drop of human blood from miles away, immediately locating wounded prey.

  The Truth: Although scientists long suspected that sharks had a superior sense of smell, certain studies casted doubt on the theory. Researchers found that sharks were able to sense blood, but the animals can't detect blood over great distances. If they were able to smell that well, they'd be oversensitive to other ocean scents. The influx of information would confuse them.
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  (#4) Dogs Are Colorblind

  The Myth: People believed dogs were colorblind for decades, and movies didn't help the misconception. In Cats & Dogs, the dogs are unable to disarm a bomb despite knowing the correct procedure because they cannot tell which wire is which. It's usually suggested that dogs only see in black and white.

  The Truth: Although dogs are not quite as capable as humans at seeing color, they definitely do not see in black and white. Canines distinguish between different colors to some degree. However, they only have two different types of cones that detect color, so it's difficult for them to see reds and greens.
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  (#3) Lemming

  • Organism Classification

  The Myth: Lemmings garnered a decades-old reputation for being suicidal. The Disney documentary White Wilderness was responsible for popularizing the concept, suggesting that the small rodents might kill themselves during migration events.

  The Truth: The animals never exhibited any tendencies to commit suicide. In fact, the type of lemmings shown in the Disney film don’t even migrate. Allegedly, the scenes were faked. The small animals were driven into the water; they didn't voluntarily choose their deaths. 
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  (#9) St. Bernard

  • Animal breed

  The Myth: Supposedly, monks in Switzerland used St. Bernard dogs at the Great Saint Bernard Hospice to carry brandy to people trapped on the snowy mountains. The doggos in productions like Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Adventures of Topper carry alcohol in barrels hung around their necks.

  The Truth: While monks did use St. Bernard dogs to help rescue snowed-in travelers, the holy brethren never affixed brandy to their canine friends. Edwin Landseer painted a picture depicting the dogs with barrels around their necks, possibly starting the whole myth.

  Also, drinking brandy while lodged in the snow would be incredibly dangerous. The alcohol would spread heat to the vital organs, increasing chances of hypothermia. 
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  (#8) Sleeping Cows Can Be Tipped

  The Myth: Movies suggest that people in rural areas love to go out at night and tip over sleeping cows. In theory, cow-tipping is a relatively simple task because the animals are supposedly rather stupid. Plus, they stand while sleeping, making them easy targets for characters from Tommy Boy or the Heathers film.

  The Truth: Cow tipping is nearly impossible, though. The dairy-producing animals are incredibly strong and heavy. It would take the strength of at least six people to achieve such a feat. There are also other problems with the myth. Cows do not sleep standing up, and they are perfectly capable of defending themselves. Bovines can seriously injure or kill human predators.
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  (#2) Mothers Abandon Baby Birds That Humans Touch

  The Myth: Folklore suggests that touching a baby bird dooms the young creature. Allegedly, nestlings that are handled by humans will be abandoned because the human scent confuses bird parents. Films like Fly Away Home warn that any well-wishing children should steer clear of injured or lost birds.

  The Truth: Most birds will never abandon their young except in very specific circumstances. Like other animals, these winged creatures innately prefer to protect their children, developing bonds as soon as the eggs hatch. Besides, birds generally have a very weak senses of smell. They wouldn't be able to distinguish the scent of a person from the other smells in the surrounding area.

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