I’ve been playingStardew Valleycasually for years, with over 250 hours of farming, fishing, mining, and building a hatred for Clint, but it wasn’t until I came across a fans Reddit post that I realized I should’ve been paying more attention to my animals. Apparently, inStardew Valley, wild animal attacks can result in the permanent loss of farm animals, which was a shocking and tragic revelation that has me rethinking my daily routine. These attacks occur when animals are left outside overnight and the barn or coop doors are closed before the animal can return.
The next morning, players may find thatone of their animalsis missing, and the other animals will appear stressed out, letting you know something horrible has happened and also that they are traumatized. This mechanic adds a layer of unexpected realism and consequence to the game, and it emphasizes the importance of responsible animal care and farm management. It’s also a mechanic that, like many inStardew Valley,is almost definitely inspired by an iconicHarvest Moonmechanic.
Wild Animal Attacks Can Kill Your Animals In Stardew Valley
Close Your Barn & Coop Doors If You Care About Your Livestock
I always knew that I could wake up to find a new animal friend in my barn or coop after one of them finally gave birth or an egg hatched, but what I didn’t know was thatmy animals could also be taken away from me without warning.It has me completely rethinking whatother “hidden” featuresI might be sleeping on, and I’m definitely going to be more cautious in the future about making sure my animals have made it inside for the night.
The most likely reason I wasn’t aware of this possibility is that it’s somewhat rare for animals to get trapped outside, especially if you are diligent about closing the door or are the sort to simplyleave the doors open and let your animals graze each morning. The only way for an animal to get locked outside the barn or coop is to close the door before 6 PM, which is when they all head indoors. This explains the fate of my beloved Moo-Moo in an early playthrough, who perished because I accidentally closed the barn door and went to sleep early.
If you have max friendship with your pets, there’s a 20% chance they drop a gift for you when you pet them for the first time every day.
Unfortunately, I never put two and two together that Moo-Moo had been attacked by wild animals. Who knows how many times it has happened since, and clearly I’m not as great a farmer as I previously thought. Thankfully, I also learned that while most of your livestock is prone to wild attacks, pets (i.e.cats, dogs, and turtles) cannot be attacked by wild animals. These companions are immune to such events, andplayers can rest assured that their beloved pets will not be harmedby predators.
Animal Attacks May Be Inspired By Harvest Moon
Harvest Moon Was Way More Brutal About Animal Attacks
Harvest Moonis a beloved farming simulation series known for its peaceful gameplay centered around building a life on a farm, which mostStardew Valleyfans will likely be familiar with. It’s pretty obvious thatStardew Valleywas heavily influenced by certainHarvest Moonmechanics, but this is one that stands out. WhileHarvest Moonis generally a relaxing experience, it also has instances where things get real, one being thatwild dogs can attack your animals.
The consequences of losing an animal in theHarvest Moonuniverse were more significant, however, as pointed out byReddit user u/abradolphon the Stardew Valley sub. InHarvest Moon,you’d actually have toattend a funeral for your lost animal friend,and then get berated by the character you bought it from for being so irresponsible. It makes me happy that I never had to attend Moo-Moo’s funeral and get yelled at by Marnie, even if it might have been nice to give her a proper send-off.
I’m Never Leaving My Animals Outside Again
Now That I Know My Livestock Can Be Eaten In The Night, I’ll Be More Careful
Now that I know there’s even a possibility of losing an animal from being left outside overnight, I’m definitely not going to bed early without making sure they all get in okay first. As someone who typicallyleaves the barn and coop door open all the time, it’s easy to overlook the fact that closing it can have some unintended consequences. The next time I close the door to prevent my animals from grazing in the morning, I’ll be sure to double-check that everyone’s inside and tucked in for a good night’s sleep.
“I’ve officially learned my lesson about livestock ownership on the Stardew ranch.”
Overall, the loss of Moo-Moo won’t go in vain any longer, and I’ve officially learned my lesson about livestock ownership on theStardewranch. It’s another hard-learnedStardew Valleylesson that gives me just the slightest sense of closure of what I thought was Moo-Moo disappearing due to a glitch or some other mysterious mechanic. If you want to protect your animals inStadew Valley,make sure you don’t lock them outside overnight.
Source:Reddit user u/abradolph
