Which animal is typically associated with vampires in European mythology?

The association of wolves with vampires in European mythology primarily stems from the symbolism of the wolf as a creature linked to darkness, wildness, and the supernatural. In many cultures, wolves are seen as both predators and creatures of the night, thereby enhancing their connection to the eerie and the undead. Additionally, legends about werewolves, as transformations between human and wolf, intertwine with vampire lore, exemplifying themes of predation, transformation, and the crossing of boundaries between life and death.

While ravens are often seen as omens or messengers in various mythologies, including those about death and the underworld, their direct link to vampires is less prominent compared to wolves. Bears, though powerful animals, do not have a strong association in vampire mythology. Thus, while ravens and bears have their own respective mythological contexts, they do not carry the same direct connections to the vampire mythos as wolves do.

Consequently, identifying wolves as the animal most typically associated with vampires highlights the interplay of folklore, symbolism, and the thematic elements that characterize these undead figures in European storytelling.