milling

animal behavior

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Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

The term "milling" has multiple meanings. In animal behavior, it refers to a type of avoidance behavior where animals move in a circling mass, often before a stampede. This behavior can also be seen in humans, characterized by agitated, aimless movement and a search for cues from others.12

In a different context, "milling" describes processes like grinding grain into flour, removing outer layers from seeds, or shaping materials with a rotary cutter. It can also refer to the process of giving a coin a ridged edge or cutting grooves into metal.1

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cetacean
Social behaviour
…by bunching up and "milling." The former response has been utilized by fishermen, who drive a whale or school of dolphins into a situation where they can kill it. Milling has been seen in dolphin schools driven into an enclosure or caught in a net; the animals move in…
Read More
…by bunching up and "milling." The former response has been utilized by fishermen, who drive a whale or school of dolphins into a situation where they can kill it. Milling has been seen in dolphin schools driven into an enclosure or caught in a net; the animals move in…
Read More