Overview
In the decades since the bacteriological war, wildlife has returned to the abandoned landscapes of Rooted's world. Animals serve dual roles in the game: as a food source through Hunting and Fishing, and as a potential threat through dangerous wildlife encounters.
Confirmed Wildlife
Animal | Added | Role |
|---|---|---|
Deer | January 22, 2026 | First huntable wildlife. Roam the world freely. Described as the first step toward a deeper hunting experience. |
Fish | Phase 3 (planned) | Catchable with craftable fish traps deployed in lakes and rivers. |
Dangerous Wildlife
Not all animals are passive. Some wildlife species are aggressive and will attack players who enter their territory. These dangerous animals function as one of three enemy categories alongside hostile survivors and ROTOR robots. Wildlife encounters can vary between animals that flee from players and those that charge aggressively.
Hunting Development
The full hunting system is planned as part of Alpha Phase 3. Current hunting capabilities include:
Firearms: The M4A1 and Glock can be used to hunt wildlife. See weapons for details.
Hunting traps: Traditional snare-based traps for capturing prey without using ammunition.
Deer: Currently the only confirmed huntable animal in the game world.
Fishing
Fishing mechanics are being introduced in stages:
Feature | Patch | Description |
|---|---|---|
Swimming | v0.0.2.80 (Oct 2024) | Players can swim in water, introduced as a prerequisite for fishing activities. |
Fish traps | Phase 3 | Craftable traps deployed in lakes and rivers for passive fish harvesting. |
Open-water boat fishing | Planned | Full fishing gameplay from boats on open water. |
Role in Survival
Animals are a primary component of the Food Management system. Hunted game and caught fish provide protein to supplement crops from gardening and foraged berries. Cooking captured food at a campfire or with a Cooking Pot makes it safe and more effective for sustaining the player.
Live Wildlife
Deer is the only species live in the world as of the January 22, 2026 update. The studio framed the deer as the first step toward a deeper wildlife system, and the implementation focused on movement, spawning, and basic combat behavior. Deer drop food items when killed, which feeds back into the hunting loop and food management.
Planned Species
Additional huntable species are confirmed as planned, with some intended to behave aggressively and some to be infected. The studio has not committed to a final roster; expect rollouts to align with Phase 3 pacing through 2026.
Wildlife type | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Deer | Live | First wildlife species; huntable, drops meat. |
Additional huntable species | Planned | Roster to expand during Phase 3. |
Aggressive species | Planned | Confirmed in FAQ; counter requires combat readiness. |
Infected species | Planned | Tied to contamination thread. |
Player Interaction
Until skinning and meat-cooking depth ships, animals function primarily as food sources gated by combat readiness. Players running coordinated co-op can split a hunt between scouting via drones and the actual approach, reducing missed shots and reducing the chance of scaring nearby herds.