Animal Behaviors
Better Ecology enhances vanilla Minecraft animals with scientifically-grounded behaviors. Each animal exhibits realistic behaviors appropriate to its species, based on peer-reviewed ethological research.
Land Animals
| Animal | Key Behaviors |
| Sheep | Wool growth, grazing, flock dynamics, lamb care |
| Pig | Rooting, truffle hunting, mud bathing, crop feeding |
| Cow | Herding, grazing patterns, maternal behaviors |
| Chicken | Flocking, foraging, nesting, alarm responses |
| Rabbit | Zigzag evasion, burrowing, alarm signals |
| Goat | Ramming, mountain movement, climbing |
| Llama | Caravan behavior, spit defense, pack carrying |
| Armadillo | Rolling defense, burrowing, insect foraging |
| Sniffer | Ancient seed finding, digging |
| Mooshroom | Stew production, flower eating (brown) |
Equines
| Animal | Key Behaviors |
| Horse | Kick defense, rearing, bonding, herd dynamics |
| Donkey and Mule | Pack animal storage, equine behaviors |
| Camel | Dash ability, sitting, two-rider capacity |
Predators
| Animal | Key Behaviors |
| Wolf | Pack dynamics, food sharing, hunting |
| Fox | Hunting, caching, crepuscular activity |
| Cat | Stalking, pouncing, gift-giving, creeper detection |
| Ocelot | Jungle hunting, stealth |
Birds and Flying Creatures
| Animal | Key Behaviors |
| Parrot | Mimicking, dancing, music detection, perching |
| Bat | Crepuscular emergence, roosting, group patterns |
| Bee | Foraging, hive dynamics, pollination |
| Allay | Item collection, music attraction, duplication |
Aquatic and Amphibians
| Animal | Key Behaviors |
| Fish | Schooling, escape waves, species-specific behaviors |
| Dolphin | Acrobatics, treasure assistance, wave riding |
| Turtle | Beach nesting, ocean navigation, egg protection |
| Axolotl | Aquatic hunting, playing dead, regeneration |
| Frog | Tongue attacks, tadpole development, variants |
Nether Creatures
| Animal | Key Behaviors |
| Strider | Lava walking, temperature sensitivity |
Common Behavior Systems
All animals share common systems for:
- Hunger: Need-based food seeking
- Condition: Overall health affecting outputs
- Social needs: Group requirements and distress
- Fleeing: Escape from threats
See Hunger and Condition for details on these systems.