Skyrim:Animals

Animals comprise various mundane creatures that have no magical or weapon-wielding abilities.  Statistics and summary information for animals except horses are provided on this page; see Horses for detailed information pertaining to horses.

The "Animals" category includes a wide variety of creatures, with different degrees of aggressiveness (some have no attack capability at all), and many different habitats.  The characteristics common to all animals are that they are modeled upon real animals that exist (or existed formerly) on Earth, and that they rely exclusively upon physical attacks using their bodies (claws, paws, hooves, fangs, horns, etc.)  The damage values listed on this page under "Attacks" are all for melee-type damage.

Animals have no true magical capabilities; the only comparable features in animals are:
Resistance to elements.  Several animals have resistance to frost.
Diseases.  Most animals can be infected with (and can transmit) one or more diseases.

Animal behavior is organized into three ranks: Non-hostile, in which the animal will never attack unless under the influence of a spell. Neutral, in which the animal will only attack when provoked by proximity or direct harm. Hostile, in which the animal will attack on sight. 

Attacking an NPC's livestock will earn you a bounty, and sometimes cause them to turn hostile. Domestic animals may report crimes and be counted as witnesses. 
 

Bear
thumb|A Bear
Bears are large, hostile enemies that will attack the player if they come too close. They are found either in the wilderness or in the lairs they make in caves. Bears can transmit Bone Break Fever, which deducts 25 points from the player's stamina. They are very tough, but are vulnerable to fire damage.
Variations: Snow Bear, Cave Bear

This is a summary of information on bears. See the main Bear article for more detailed information.
 

Chicken
thumb|right|A Chicken
Chickens are docile, domesticated birds common throughout Skyrim, even within cities and towns. Attacking NPC-owned chickens will earn a bounty, but you can legally harvest eggs from their nests for use as alchemy ingredients. 

This is a summary of information on chickens. See the main Chicken article for more detailed information.
 

Cow
thumb|right|A Cow
Cows are large, docile, domesticated animals common throughout Skyrim, especially on farms. Attacking an NPC's livestock will earn you a bounty. Occasionally you may come across a cow with strange symbols on it in red or blue paint. These cows are usually following a farmer, who is bringing the cow to a giant for a sacrificial ceremony.

Variations: Soul 

This is a summary of information on cows. See the main Cow article for more detailed information.
 

Deer
thumb|A deer
Deer are passive creatures found throughout Skyrim and will flee when approached or threatened. They can be hunted for meat, pelt and large or small antlers. There are two different species of deer in Skyrim, though the differences between the two are largely aesthetic. 'Deer' resemble caribou or reindeer. 'Elk', in keeping with Skyrim's menagerie of Ice Age creatures, resemble the extinct Megaloceros. Occasionally, either species can be heard bugling for mates.

Variations: Elk,   
Unique Deer: White Stag

This is a summary of information on deer. See the main Deer article for more detailed information.
 

Dog
thumb|right|A Dog
Dogs are found throughout Skyrim, usually accompanying NPCs. If a dog is owned by a hostile NPC, such as a bandit, the dog will also be hostile. You can occasionally find stray dogs in the wild that can be provoked into attacking you. Huskies and Death Hounds (both added by the Dawnguard add-on) are generally found accompanying NPCs, though Death Hounds only ally themselves with vampires. See their respective articles for more detailed information.

Variations: 
Dog, Stray Dog
Spectral Warhound
Death Hound 
Husky 

Unique Dogs: Barbas, Meeko, Stump, Tiber, Torom, Vigilance, Ysgramor

This is a summary of information on dogs. See the main Dog article for more detailed information.
 

Fox
thumb|A Fox

Foxes are small, non-aggressive creatures which are found in the wilderness. Foxes are often seen chasing Rabbits. They usually drop fox pelts.

Variations: Snow Fox
Unique Foxes: Kit , Pumpkin, Vix 

This is a summary of the information on Foxes. See the main Fox article for more detailed information
 

Goat
thumb|right|A Goat
Goats are passive creatures generally found on mountain slopes. They can be hunted for their hides, meat, and goat horns , but occasionally drop nothing.
Unique Goat: Gleda the Goat

This is a summary of information on goats. See the main Goat article for more detailed information.
 

Horker
thumb|right|A Horker
Horkers are sea animals, similar in appearance to a walrus, that typically live in packs of three or four. They are usually found on ice at the sides of rivers in northern Skyrim. Occasionally one of these creatures can be seen crawling up a slope near the seaside. 
Unique Horkers: Lord Tusk 

This is a summary of information on horkers. See the main Horker article for more detailed information.
 

Horse
thumb|right|A Horse
Horses are non-hostile animals that you can ride. They can be purchased from a stable, stolen, found abandoned, borrowed for work done, or rewarded in a quest. An owned horse will aid you in combat. If you haven't sided with either faction, a horse can be obtained for free after the player clears Fort Greymoor. Wait for the Imperial Army to take over, and there will be two horses in the courtyard that the player can take. All horses participate in combat if you cast a Courage spell on them. Horses can traverse steeper inclines than the player can, although a fall that would kill a horse is much shorter than one that would kill the player. The strongest and fastest horse in Skyrim is Shadowmere, which can be obtained through the Dark Brotherhood questline.

Variations: Wild Horse 

This is a summary of information on horses. See the main Horses article for more detailed information.
 

Mammoth
thumb|right|A Mammoth
Mammoths are huge, lumbering animals that can most often be found in Giant Camps or being herded across the tundra by giants. Mammoths are usually not hostile, although they will fight back if attacked and may become aggressive if approached. If you attack a mammoth, the giants herding it will retaliate. Mammoths have high health and a powerful melee attack, so attacking one at a low level is not recommended, although if proper caution is exercised the mammoth can be one of the most essential skill-leveling creatures in Skyrim. Due to their poor ability to cross over certain terrain the mammoth can be easily killed by making use of distanced combat techniques. Mammoth corpses may be looted for Mammoth Tusks and Mammoth Snouts. Of note, mammoths are the earliest creatures you encounter which can fill Grand Soul Gems.

This is a summary of information on mammoths. See the main Mammoth article for more detailed information.
 

Mudcrab
thumb|right|A Mudcrab
Mudcrabs are small nuisance creatures primarily found near water. Their corpses may be looted for Mudcrab Chitin which can be used as an ingredient in alchemy, and Mudcrab Legs , a food introduced by the Hearthfire add-on. Skyrim mudcrabs are hardier than their Cyrodiilic cousins, having nearly triple their health.

Unique Mudcrabs: Old Salty , Pincer 

This is a summary of information on mudcrabs. See the main Mudcrab article for more detailed information.
 

Rabbit
thumb|right|A Rabbit
Rabbits are small, non-hostile animals which will flee from you, and are sometimes hunted by foxes and other predators. 
Unique rabbit: Cotton 

This is a summary of information on Rabbits. See the main Rabbit article for more detailed information.
 

Sabre Cat
thumb|A Sabre Cat
Sabre Cats are large, hostile felines with huge canine teeth. They will attack immediately, and represent a dangerous foe. They are most often found in wilderness areas throughout Skyrim, and will usually abandon any other prey to attack you. Sabre Cats may carry Witbane, a disease which reduces magicka regeneration by 50%. 

Variations: Snowy Sabre Cat,   

This is a summary of information on sabre cats. See the main Sabre Cat article for more detailed information.
 

Skeever
thumb|right|A Skeever
Skeevers are small, aggressive, rat-like animals that attack on sight. They may be encountered in dark areas, such as caves or dungeons, as well as in the wilderness of Skyrim. They are generally considered to be the weakest enemy in the game, although they often carry the disease Ataxia, which lowers Lockpicking and Pickpocket. 
Variations: Venomfang Skeever
Unique skeever: Biter 

This is a summary of information on skeevers. See the main Skeever article for more detailed information.
 

Slaughterfish
thumb|right|A Slaughterfish
Slaughterfish are small, hostile fish with razor sharp teeth. They can be difficult to kill due to the fact that entering deep water forces you to sheathe your weapons, necessitating attacks from land or shallow water. 

This is a summary of information on slaughterfish. See the main Slaughterfish article for more detailed information.
 

Wolf
thumb|A Wolf
Wolves are low-level, hostile canids found throughout the wilds of Skyrim. They can be encountered singly, or in packs of up to three, often hunting other animals. The player will often hear their howls before they are spotted. 
Variations: Ice Wolf, Pit Wolf

This is a summary of information on wolves. See the main Wolf article for more detailed information.

 
Notes
Normally-passive animals may attack and/or appear as hostile on your compass due to the spriggan Call of the Wild ability. This is the only time when passive animal attack values come into play, as they normally flee if attacked.
In addition to their loot, most creatures also have a 10% chance of carrying minor loot, including leveled rings, gems, and gold. Goats have a 20% chance, while chickens, foxes, and rabbits do not carry any minor loot.
Every animal, even those that are not hostile, has a red glow when using the spell Detect Life.
With the Hearthfire add-on, some animals can be made into house pets for adopted children.

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