Animalistic verbs in English

Some animal names can be directly used as verbs, meaning to act like a certain animal:

• Ape (v.): To mimic or imitate someone, often in an absurd way.

• Badger (v.): To pester, harass, or ask someone repeatedly.

• Beaver (v.): To work hard (usually "beaver away").

• Buck (v.): To resist or oppose something.

• Clam (v.): To be silent (usually "clam up").

• Cow (v.): To intimidate or subdue someone.

• Crane (v.): To stretch one's neck to see better.

• Crow (v.): To brag or express great pride.

• Dog (v.): To follow or pursue someone closely.

• Ferret (v.): To search persistently for something hidden.

• Fish (v.): To search for something, or to try to get information.

• Fox (v.): To baffle or deceive.

• Hound (v.): To pursue relentlessly.

• Monkey (v.): To tinker, fool around, or behave mischievously.

• Parrot (v.): To repeat something mindlessy.

• Rat (v.): To betray or inform on someone (usually "rat on").

• Snake (v.): To move in a curvey line.

• Squirrel (v.): To hoard or hide away (usually "squirrel away").

• Weasel (v.): To evade a duty or cheat (usually "weasel out").

• Wolf (v.): To eat food very quickly. 

Categorized Behavioral Verbs:

• Harassment/Persistence: Badger, hound, dog, ferret.

• Movement/Posture: Crane, slither, lounge, preen, fawn.

• Communication/Sound: Parrot, crow, babble, hiss, growl.

• Eating/Consumption: Wolf, hog, peck

In contemporary discourse we can observe how names of birds or animals are turned into actional verbs. Let us start with crow.

In case anyone talks in a proud or annoying way because they have succeeded and other people have failed they may be refered to as those who crow,

 e.g. Who is going to crow? (Rose of Nevada Official trailer)

The CEO was crowing about the company’s record-breaking sales numbers during the quarterly earnings call.

It often happens that while crowing about something, people parrot others which means they repeat exactly what they say without understanding or thinking,

e.g. The employee simply parroted the CEO’s presentation instead of offering an original analysis. 

When you copy someone or something badly or unsuccessfully, you ape them:

 e.g. He accused the architect of aping classical traditions.

When you happen to store something up for future use or just hide, you can use a phrasal verb squirrel away

e.g. He has squirreled away a few dollars for an emergency.

Reference:

https://jbonneau.com/animal_verbs.html

Your comments on the topic are welcome!