A Witch's Zoo

Ranger Rick, Nov 1, 1998

Black cats. Eerie owls. Creepy spiders. What makes these animals so Halloween spooky? Long ago, people believed that witches used them all!

THIS CAT LOOKS FAMILIAR Hundreds of years ago, many people in Europe believed in witches. They said that witches could turn into animals such as cats--especially black cats. If people saw a cat walking down the road, they might think the animal was really a witch. Even if the cat wasn't a witch, it might have been the witch's "familiar." A familiar was a kind of evil imp. It helped the witch with her magic and mischief. Of course, no one could really turn into a cat or use one to make magic. But even today, some people still think it's bad luck to let black cats cross their paths. So what do black cats really do on Halloween? While the wind howls and the shutters creak, many do what they do best--take catnaps!

WHOOOOOO'S THAT? The shriek of an owl in the night may send a shiver down your spine--even if you don't believe in witches. The eerie call was even more frightening for people long ago. Many of them thought the owl might be an evil spirit or be controlled by a witch. (You don't believe that, do you?) Other people thought that owls knew when someone was going to die. They thought an owl would wait for the moment of death and then swoop down to eat the person's soul. So the screech of an owl was supposed to be a warning of death. Owls do swoop down--to hunt birds, mice, rats, insects, and other animals. So if an owl is swooping nearby, it doesn't mean a person is dying. It means an owl is hungry!

BAT BREW Bats were a big part of witch magic-making. For example, some witches used bat blood to make a magic lotion. They rubbed the lotion on their bodies, and that was supposed to make them able to fly through the night like bats. But the only thing flying was the witch's imagination! People also used to believe that bats were guided by mysterious powers. The powers let bats find their way--and their prey--even during the darkest night. Now we know that bats use a kind of radar called echolocation (EK-oh-lo-KAY-shun) to guide them. Some people also thought bats were blood-sucking vampires. In fact, three species (kinds) of bats are called vampires. But they don't suck blood. They lap it from little cuts they make in cattle and other warm-blooded animals--including humans. Vampire bats live only in Central and South America.

WHOA--IT'S A TOAD! Toads were an important ingredient in magical brews and lotions. For example, one lotion was supposed to make a witch invisible. It was made with toad spit and other things. People also thought that toads were witches' familiars, or even witches themselves. If a toad was seen near a woman accused of witchcraft, the woman might be found guilty. Toads used to be very unpopular. People thought that toads could give them warts. They also thought that toads spit out poison. Toads do give off a milky, bad-tasting juice from glands under their skin. But the juice won't poison you or give you warts (though it can sting your eyes and irritate your skin). Toads are really one of our best friends in the garden. At night while we sleep, toads eat cutworms, slugs, and other pesky creatures that damage plants.

SPIDER HELPER Witches supposedly kept spiders to help them cast their spells. The tiny animals were handy helpers because they could crawl into spaces where larger animals couldn't go. Some people thought that spiders were witches' familiars. In one case, a man accused of witchcraft had almost convinced the court that he was innocent. But then a spider was seen crawling near his lips. The prosecutor said that the spider must be telling the witch what to say. The judge believed the prosecutor--and the prisoner was sentenced to death. Today, some people are still afraid of spiders. But most kinds won't hurt you.

Witches supposedly used all these animals and more--dogs, hares, rats, even a kind of beetle. And some folks still think these animals are spooky. Now you know they're special--not just at Halloween, but all year long!

Rangers: Since ancient times, people around the world have believed that some folks have magical powers. Some of these folks were called "witches" and were accused of doing evil. Today, some people call themselves witches. But these people don't try to hurt anyone, and they sure don't ride around on broomsticks!