The topic of this paper is the analysis of phraseological units with a zoonym component in Russian language. Using encyclopedic, etymological and lingua-cultural sources, the analysis provides a description of phraseological units containing the names of wild and domestic animals. Phraseological units with a zoonym component are one of the most numerous groups of phraseological units in the phrasicon of the Russian language. They are a result of the lasting coexistence of humans and animals, which in turn makes them a valuable source of useful information concerning the attitudes of humans towards animals with which they interact either directly or indirectly. The meaning of every phraseological unit has been assigned by humans; as such, it serves as a reflection of the conceptual system of their societies. The key concept in this paper is the notion of stereotype as a set of generalized conceptions about objects and creatures inhabiting the extralinguistic reality of humans. The aim of the paper was to define the respective roles of both wild and domesticated animals in phraseological units with a zoonym component in Russian language and verify whether the Russian language contains the symbolism of stereotypes, as well as uncover the extent to which such symbolism is justified.