Editing Symbols of death (section)

== Animals ==
Throughout history and across many cultures, some animals have come to symbolize death and dying.  This symbolism is often demonstrated in the legends and folklore of the culture.   The specific animals and the details of their symbolism vary widely from culture to culture.  <ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Why Do These 6 Animals Represent Death in Cultures Around the World? |url=https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/why-do-these-6-animals-represent-death-in-cultures-around-the-world |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Discover Magazine |language=en}}</ref>  However, some animals tend to appear more frequently than others; such as dogs, bats, owls and crows.

Several societies, associate a type of dog with death.  Dogs often serve as companions or guides to humans.    Unsurprisingly, these animals that are so much a part of human life would have a role in death as well.  In Mexico, the Xoloitzcuintli, a hairless dog, is thought to guide the spirits of the deceased and are associated with Dia de Los Muertas. <ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Lynn |first=Willow |date=2023-11-05 |title=6 Animals Who Represent Death Around the World and Why |url=https://www.onegreenplanet.org/animals/6-animals-represent-death-around-world-why/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=One Green Planet |language=en}}</ref>   In Greece, Cerberus is a three-headed dog which guards the entrance to the underworld.     In Welsh mythology, there is also a dog that guards the underworld.  <ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=sophie.ellis@ourmedia.co.uk |date=2025-02-08 |title=A ‘demon cat’ that haunts the White House and a tsunami-predicting fish – 11 animals associated with death |url=https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/animals-associated-with-death |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Discover Wildlife |language=en}}</ref>  In England, the black dog, black shuck, is associate with death or misfortune.  

Bats, as a nocturnal animal, are often associated with darkness and death.  In Christianity, bats are considered to be the bird of the devil and connections between the physiology of bats and demons are made.  <ref name=":0" />  In New Zealand, bats are associated with the Hokioi, a mythical nocturnal bird that foretells death.  <ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Geggel |first=Elise Poore Contributions from Laura |last2=published |first2=Tia Ghose |date=2023-10-31 |title=7 creatures associated with death |url=https://www.livescience.com/animals/creatures-associated-with-death |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Live Science |language=en}}</ref>    The discover of the vampire bats in North America and the exaggeration of their qualities made lasting associations between bats and death that eventually lead to Dracula and vampire stories.  <ref name=":2" />  Bats are often connected to both Halloween and witches.

Owls, another nocturnal animal, are also tied to death.   Some Mediterranean folklore tells of women who turn into to owls at night to suck the breath away from babies.  <ref name=":0" />  The hoot of an owl, according to Roman Mythology, is said to be an omen of imminent death or demise.  It is said that the sound of an owl was heard shortly before the death of several Roman Emperors.  <ref name=":3" />  Sri Lankan folklore tells of an owl-like creature whose human sounding shrieks are heard across the jungle at night.   Like in Roman mythology, they are said to foretell of death.  <ref name=":2" />

Another common animal found to symbolize death across many cultures are crows.    Crows are scavenging birds. This might explain why so many cultures have associated them with death as they were often seen near dead bodies.  <ref name=":1" />  Irish folklore tells of Badb, one of a trio of war goddesses, took the form of a crow.  Badb is said to foreshadow bloodshed.   <ref name=":3" />       Traditional Swedish folklore says that crows are the ghost of those who did not receive a proper burial.  <ref name=":1" />     Some literature uses crows circling in the air above a specific place to foretell the death in that area.  <ref name=":0" />      All over the world crows are commonly associated with death.  In fact, a group of crows is called a murder.