Tortoises.

Live for a hundred+ years, and they just kinda vibe on land and do things at their own pace. They’re the turtles who don’t need water. And when you present them with food, they go to town and are single-minded. I can relate to all of that.

Armadillo, my spirit animal, the embodiment of “please leave me alone”. And depend on mood, Porcupine, the embodiment of “PLEASE DON’T TALK TO ME”.

Crows. They’re incredibly intelligent and seem to have settled on using that intelligence almost solely to be little mischief gremlins. They’re the only kind of bird that seems to understand that my cat can’t get to them through the window. I watch them work in pairs to steal food from seagulls - one goes in for an obvious attempt, all the seagulls chase it off, the other grabs a bite while the gulls are distracted, and then they swap roles. I’ve even seen one actively dipping chips (fries) into a pot of ketchup. In winter you can very occasionally spot them playing in the snow. They’ll intentionally slide down a snowy car windshield or roof, then fly back up to the top to do it again.

I volunteered at a greyhound rescue shelter for a little while, where there was a rook (very close relative to crows, distinguishable by their paler beaks). He had been hit by a car years beforehand and the owners of the shelter found him at the side of the road. They took him to a vet, who had to amputate one of his wings, so obviously he couldn’t live wild any more. He was instead having a comfy life hanging out at the shelter. Totally unafraid of the humans or the dogs. When I sat down to have my lunch next to him he would yell at me to share a biscuit with him.

Chihuahuas. They’re loyal AF and will fuck your shit up if you step out of line.

Turtles because of how much they look like they’re enjoying the sun. I feel like they have something figured out.

My hot animal take is that slugs have some of the most elegant anatomy. If you were that low to the ground, you’d love a nice mucous barrier between yourself and the parasites. Plus the way they mate is extremely practical. If you’re small and slow, how hard must it be to find a compatible mate in this big ol world? Just kidding, they’re all compatible.

Also I think their fat faces and feelers are cute.

Birds. Insects. Every other animal.

I grew up with a cat, so that is a clear winner for me, I also like dogs, it is just something about most dogs enthusiasm and boundless energy that is fantastic.

I did horse back riding for a few years, and like horses as well, you just need to understand how to read their moods.

My favourite wild animal is the Lynx, though it’s tail is stupid.

1. Turtles.
2. Cats (even though I’m allergic).
3. Corvids.
4. Anything that kills mosquitoes, like dragonflies, spiders, and bats.
5. Dogs.

Honorable mention: Ankylosaurs because they’re tanks, but also extinct. RIP you magnificent chunguses.

Most hated;

5. Stinging ants.
6. Ticks, Fleas, lice, bedbugs, etc.
7. Flies, especially biting ones
8. Hornets/wasps/bees
9. Mosquitos

HM: Skunks.

Archerfish. They spit at bugs to knock them down into the water so they can eat them.

Cats - Always had em around, always bond pretty deeply with them. Always seemed to be able to build a language with them and enjoy the mutual respect.

Crows - Have a small crew that meets me for lunch every day and we just chill and I love watching them playing and throwing unsalted peanuts out for them.

Shrews, manatees, and swiftlets.

Ducks. They’re hilarious when they’re alive and delicious when they’re cooked.

Cats, whales (hence the whale emoji in my username), and dolphins. Cats are cute fluffy oddballs and cetaceans in general are majestic and intelligent beings. I also like birds because I’ve always had an affinity towards things that can effortlessly soar through the skies…

Humans. You can strike up a casual conversation with them.