You are probably aware of the great speed at which a fast running antelope can flee from the claws of a hungry
predator. And you may have seen how quickly a jackrabbit can scurry across a field to escape a charging cheetah.
There are, however, many animals that have developed very clever ways of escaping from their enemies without
running away at all.
Many sea creatures are known to outsmart an attacker by using their own body chemistry. A type of shrimp
known as Metridia Lucens is one such sea creature. When this shrimp recognizes approaching danger, it lets off a
brilliant light, much like that of a firefly, only brighter! This brilliant flash of light temporarily blinds the
approaching enemy and gives the shrimp time to swim to safety.
Some birds use a collective defense strategy called mobbing to escape from predators. When danger is
detected, a black-capped chickadee emits a distinct alarm call to rally nearby flock members. Together, they swoop
toward the predator, dart in close proximity, and vocalize loudly. This coordinated effort startles and distracts the
predator, often forcing it to retreat. Mobbing enables chickadees to evade threats and protect their community.
Another way that animals escape an enemy is to mimic the appearance of a larger, more dangerous animal. A
caterpillar known as the elephant hawkmoth has spots on its body that look very much like eyes. When this
caterpillar is threatened, a section of its body puffs up and the eyespots enlarge. The large spots make the caterpillar
appear to be a large and dangerous reptile or snake.
Even though running is a very common way to escape from danger, it is by no means the only way. There are
animals all over the world that use their bodies in very clever ways to outsmart an enemy. When animals sense
danger, nature takes charge to provide defenses that are absolutely ingenious.
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