Cunning Animals In The World (With Pictures)

Many people see animals as simple humans who lead simple lives. However, this is not always true because all animals have different characteristics that help them survive, especially in the wild. Here is a list of cunning animals that use deception to go about their lives.

Cunning animals are quite clever because they have mastered the art of deception in order to survive. In addition, they use certain tricks that allow them to achieve a certain goal as per their desire. These animals are quite interesting to study, which is why they often emerge at the top of their game.

The most cunning animals in the wild are:

Cunning Animals In The World

Foxes

Foxes are known to be the most cunning animals in the wild because of their ability to get what they want with minimal effort. One of the most enjoyable foods for foxes is eggs, and they know how to get them without conflict with the animals that provide them.

For a few hours to several days, they wait for the bird to depart the nest before moving on. The fox will then go to the nest and steal the sweet treat before eating it. If the egg is too large to carry, it will deliberately break it on a rock to get at the juicy inside, and it may do this several times.

Foxes also do this when hunting animals. It will wait patiently until it has easy access to an injured animal or a young one that will not put up a fight for control. They can also exhibit scavenger behavior by hunting and waiting for larger animals to eat, after which they reach out to eat the remains.

Read Also: Cutest Foxes

Dolphin

It is known as one of the most cunning animals in the sea but is also known to be intelligent. They use their skills to cope with rough seas and even while in captivity. One way to use your intelligence to survive is to hunt in groups. They do this by surrounding schools of fish, making sure they cannot escape where they close and feed on them.

Dolphins are also known to protect themselves from injuries by sticking sea sponges to their beaks before hunting. It protects them if they find themselves in a fight, so they don’t get hurt. This behavior is also called sponging.

There is an example where captive dolphins were trained to collect garbage in exchange for fish. Once these animals understood the system, they began to secure litters and subdivide them to get as many treats as possible. For example, they would tear plastic bags into small pieces and exchange them for fish.

Read Also: Strongest Sea Animals

Cuckoo Bees

Like the birds they are named after, these bees are pretty cunning and can pretend for long periods of time to get what they want. For example, they may walk into an unsuspecting hive and interact with other bees while waiting to smell the bees in that hive. This will help identify him as one of the others so that he is not chased out of the house.

Then it will go to the queen of the hive, kill her and take her place. In some cases, other bees may start to resist, but these bees are usually strong enough to withstand any opposition.

Sometimes, after killing the queen, the cuckoo fly eats her eggs and fills the voids with its own eggs. When the new eggs hatch, the larvae will continue to feed on the others until there is no sign of the fallen queen’s eggs and larvae. Smart move, eh?

Octopus

These eight-legged sea creatures are the most cunning animals on the planet. Octopuses have demonstrated advanced intelligence in various experiments.

For example, they have understood fairly complex tables and solved tasks required to obtain a reward (food). The octopus is also recognized as the world’s greatest escape artist. Being boneless animals, octopuses are able to free themselves by squeezing through tiny holes.

Also, some other interesting facts about octopuses are: recognizing individual human faces, opening containers from the inside and outside, using tools, and imitating the sounds of other animals.

Such clever creatures, huh? If octopuses weren’t so young, humans would have some serious competition.

Read Also: Sea Animals With Shells

Crocodiles

While they are at the top of the food chain in their environment, that doesn’t stop crocodiles from being clever. They know how to trap other animals, mainly birds, to get an easy meal

Crocodiles cover themselves with nesting materials such as sticks and grass, hoping that birds will come to pick them up and thus trap and feed them. They either hold these objects on their bodies or in some cases, their empty mouths. Then, when the birds come to get them, they eat them right away without much effort in hunting.

Crocs and crocodiles will go under the water and wait for the animals to come to drink when they see the animals too close to the pond for fear of being eaten. They can hold their breath for hours, so when the animal finally thinks it’s safe to drink water, the crocodile will attack them, killing them instantly and eating them for the day.

Read Also: Evil Animals

White-Winged Vampire Bats

Vampire bats are very interesting creatures because they primarily feed on blood. White-winged vampire bats specifically target birds, and their feeding strategy is so clever it’s a masterpiece.

That is, white-winged vampire bats use their razor-sharp teeth to make a small cut on a chicken’s leg to feed on drops of blood. However, this is not the cunning part.

These bats have learned to imitate chicken chicks. These vampires approach a hen covertly while posing as chicks, then crawl under the brood patch! While lying under the warm “mother,” a vampire bat will unexpectedly make a small bite on the hen and fill itself with blood. Next-level cunning animals, eh?

Read Also: Most Greedy Animals in the World

Crows

Crows are perhaps the most cunning birds in the wild. They have excellent abilities that allow them to survive in the harsh environment in which they live.

These birds are often found in groups, and they cooperate very well with each other. They know how to attack to get food, and they can coordinate in such a way that the prey does not know how to defend itself.

Crows have been known to attack humans so that they can attack humans in their numbers to get their food. They can then work together to get the food to a safe place to eat.

In addition, researchers have found that crows can also hold grudges against certain people. For example, they deliberately tease or attack and peck at the person, causing varying degrees of injury.

In Japan, for example, they learned how to crack nuts using traffic lights. They would wait until the light turned red as they lined the street with nuts. When the light turns green, the nuts will collide with the moving cars.

Read Also: Animals With Feathers

Brown Trouts

Brown trout reproduction is a complicated matter because they are not physically compatible. They lay eggs only once so, the timing has to be right.

However, not all of this goes into mating as females will want the best mate option. Therefore, they cannot lay eggs when they cannot find a good male to fertilize their eggs.

When the female is ready to lay eggs and doesn’t like the male available to fertilize them, she fakes an orgasm. Then, they pretend to lay eggs to drive the male away without fertilizing the eggs.

The female brown trout will then wait until a suitable male comes along, but if they don’t, the fish will still pretend to lay eggs by shaking them violently until they find their choice. Can’t find a male. Very crazy!

Ravens

One of the most cunning birds on the globe is the common raven, which is related to the crow. The intelligence of these birds is often compared to chimpanzees and dolphins.

Some popular traits are planning future events, solving problems, remembering things, and using tools. Ravens are also seen playing dead to scare other ravens away from their food.

However, when they are unable to break open animal carcasses, ravens will mimic the sounds of wolves and lure them to eat. They will then wait for the wolves to finish eating and feed them the leftovers.

Such an impressive and clever bird.

Topi Antelopes

The last member of our list of cunning animals is the topi antelope. Unlike other animals that will fight their way to increase their chances of mating, the topi antelope cries for its mate. However, in order to keep the female close so they can mate, the animal emits an alarming sound that warns the female to stray.

Whenever they see a female wanting to leave to find a more suitable mate, they sound the alarm, after which the female becomes too afraid to go out alone.

Read Also: Animals That Eat Plants

Last Words On Cunning Animals

In order to get an advantage over others, many cunning animals in the wild will utilize those qualities against them. Some do it to survive, while others just because they can. However, it is important to note that animals are much more intelligent than they appear.

And that’s all on our list of cunning animals.

Thank you for reading; I hope this article was informative.

At the very end, I would suggest a very similar read – Most Stubborn Animals