If animals don't know they're going to die, what are they scared of?

Question

I know they live (theoretically) by basic instincts, like eating, but if they don't know that they will die why are they scared of danger? Like fire or predators? Is there a instinct of something making them nervous so they run? Don't they ever think, what am I running for?

Answer 1

well animals also possess some feelings and basic instinct....if a small fawn or a cub or a  kitten, who isnt able to even understand anything knows his mother's touch well(and a feeling of being safe wid his mother)...then hw *** adult animals wudn't be able know who is a danger(predator) to them and who is not...dont u ever think that y they stay calm when they are between their own species coz they know that they are safe and nobody in that herd is gonna cause any harm to them...but as soon as they see some danger(4 eg..if a deer herd sees a tiger) they start to run away coz they know that the predator isnt of their kind and can cause harm to them.......

Answer 2

Instinct for survival - even we have it. A lot of animals, however, have more developed minds and live not only by instincts alone but also by proper conscious thought and personality - and that's a far huger percentage more than you'd think.

Answer 3

Like us, animals have a strong instinct for danger or of being trapped or caught.  My dad was a cattle-slaughterer and I have watched many terrified animals being dragged to their deaths.

Answer 4

scents of predators etc

Answer 5

It's purely instinct that has evolved because it increases the chances of survival. Animals don't think. Many animals will make running or kicking movements when they're hurt, even though there might be no place to run or nothing to kick. It's just a defence mechanism, much like when you react when touching something very hot or sharp, before you even realise what happened.

Answer 6

there is an instinct for survival.

An animal when feels threaten, they run away.

Answer 7

Why are you so sure they don't know.

Answer 8

they do not like to get bite on or the smoke.....lol

Answer 9

Thank you, you are making me think.

It is mainly a  reaction and also a learned behavior  or an instinct, but defiantly a nuro-chemical and impulses from the environments.

Some of the instinctive and learned behavior is so  well encrypted that they won't have time to think.  For example, when you touch a hot surface , the nuro-chemical impulses are so strong that you won't even have time to think to move your hand from the surface or not, for many. However, if their  nuro-chemistry  changes, then their reaction could be different and they might even have time to think and reason.

Some animals are able to think at various degrees.

Also, for many , living is so important and valued, even a fraction of second in anguish, is for worth billions to stay away from Mr. and Mrs, Death, instead of sitting back and enjoying the moments....?!!??

mmm i know humans have the concept of "Hope" i wonder if there is universal of entity called "hope" , or "Life" that is ,   biological or has biological connection... as opppoe to intellectual, mind or spirit........?!!

Thanks  for your question :).

Answer 10

Hormones and drugs released byt he brain:

serosis: is what makes us scared and what makes animals freeze up (bunnis on the road side looking at headlamps) this is the bad feeling we get

dopemiene: when we escape danger we get this good feeling which also is aided by endorphins, much like after a rollercoaster ride

adrenalin: this is the drug that gives us the abbility to run faster then usual and give us that sorta SUPERMAN feeling. of invinciableness.

ok well on a rollercoaster we know we're safe but we still feel scared coz naturally our brains release the drugs.

maybe animals work around the same princiable, they donno that theyll die yet their brain releases the drugs.

i dont see much of a differnce in them,

sorry about the spelling mistakes n'all =P

- Massis

- 16years old,  

Answer 11

They are the same as human beings (we too are animals remember). They aren't over keen about the idea of being killed and do their damnedest to survive.

Answer 12

They still feel pain.  They may not know what comes after pain, but they will definitely avoid pain if possible.