In history and folklore, weasels are often viewed as mysterious and frightening creatures, sometimes even regarded as enemies of humans, especially in agricultural communities. However, the truth about weasels and the reasons why ancient people believed they should not be killed have been scientifically studied and explained.
Weasels are small, agile, nocturnal animals. In folklore, they are often associated with negative images, particularly the theft of chickens from farmers. But why did ancient people believe that weasels should not be killed? Research by experts has shown that this belief is not just a baseless rumor but actually has surprising scientific foundations.
The belief that “weasels cannot be killed” has been passed down through generations, containing many interesting reasons and surprising scientific perspectives.
Weasels in Folklore
The saying “The weasel greets the chicken for the New Year, secretly planning to feast” reflects the ancient people’s concerns about weasels. They feared that weasels would steal their chickens, a direct threat to their daily lives in agriculture.
In reality, weasels are nocturnal and rarely appear during the day when humans are active, which contributes to the impression that they are sneaky and difficult to catch. When encountering a weasel, capturing it is nearly impossible due to its speed and agility compared to humans.
Although weasels are perceived as wicked animals, in the folklore of many East Asian countries, they are also revered as immortal deities. Ancient people believed that weasels should not be killed because they have the ability to seek revenge. If a weasel is killed, its descendants will relentlessly seek retribution, bringing disasters to the family of the person who harmed it. This instilled a deep fear in the minds of ancient people, leading them to avoid harming weasels.
Illustration of a weasel greeting a chicken.
With their nocturnal nature and agile movement, weasels often appear mysteriously, causing humans to feel hesitant and anxious. The image of a weasel sneaking into homes to catch and eat chickens further reinforces the prejudice against this animal. Additionally, in folklore, weasels are often depicted as fierce, troublesome creatures that bring bad luck. This belief has been passed down through generations, making people more cautious and reluctant to harm weasels.
The Truth Behind the Revenge Story
The legend of the vengeful weasel seems to be merely a fictional tale, yet it has deeply ingrained itself in the minds of many generations. In reality, there is no evidence that weasels can actually seek revenge on humans. The image of a vengeful weasel exists only in baseless rumors and does not manifest in reality. However, the difficulty of capturing weasels has contributed to the mystery and fear surrounding them.
One of the main reasons ancient people refrained from killing weasels was their fear of being avenged by the spirit of the animal. According to legend, if humans harm a weasel, its spirit will haunt and bring misfortunes to their family.
Weasels’ Self-Defense Abilities
Weasels are not only quick and agile, but they also have many hiding places such as tree hollows and caves, and they can even live inside human tombs. When threatened, weasels can release a substance that immobilizes their enemies, helping them escape danger. This further complicates the task of capturing them, leading people to believe they cannot be killed.
Ancient people were correct in saying that weasels should not be killed, but they were mistaken in thinking that weasels would seek revenge. From a scientific perspective, weasels are natural enemies of rats, and their ability to catch rats is even stronger than that of cats. Experts indicate that an adult weasel can kill up to 1,000 rats in a year. They are excellent warriors in controlling rat populations, which is why we should not kill weasels.
Contrary to popular belief, science has shown that weasels play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance. As carnivores, weasels can eliminate a large number of rats, helping to reduce crop damage and protect the environment.
If weasels are killed in large numbers, rat populations will explode, leading to serious consequences for agriculture and human living environments. Therefore, protecting weasels also means safeguarding human interests.
In fact, weasels are not the wicked animals that many people believe them to be. They have been misunderstood regarding their important role in nature. Humans should learn to understand and respect other animal species, recognizing their value in the ecosystem. Every animal has a reason for existence and contributes to the balance of nature.
The hunting efficiency of weasels is rated much higher than that of domestic cats, contributing to the natural control of rat populations.
Whether weasels are good or bad is merely a perspective from the human viewpoint. While humans see weasels as enemies because they fear them stealing chickens, in reality, they are protectors of crops against rat destruction. Killing weasels is not only an unnecessary act but also harmful to the ecosystem. Humans need to learn to be more tolerant and protect the diversity of animal species to make the world richer and more sustainable.
