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50 Times Mother Nature Proved To Be Scary As Hell (WARNING: This List Might Be Too Scary For You)
Mother Nature continues to amaze us every day, even when we fail to treat her with the love and respect she deserves. There are too many dreamy landscapes and mind-boggling animals that exist right outside our urban surroundings, just waiting to be appreciated. But be careful though — if you get too close, things can go from mesmerizing to straight-up terrifying in mere seconds.
You see, not all wildlife surprises are pleasant. They sometimes crawl into the comfort of our homes to remind us that nature is not to be messed with. In fact, there are plenty of horrified poor souls that have experienced these unsettling terrors firsthand. Before running to the hills, they managed to snap a photo and share their horror stories with everyone online.
We at Bored Panda scoured the internet and found plenty of cases where nature provided our world with alien-like creatures to scare the heck out of everyone who crosses them. Continue scrolling and let us know which ones made you say 'nope' the loudest! And if by some chance you think you can handle even more creepy and spooky examples, check out our earlier compilations of this feature here, here, and here.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Caught This Storm Above A Bowing Field Of Sunflowers
RELATED:
#2
Due To The Low Temperature, Lake Michigan Shattered Into Countless Pieces Of Ice
To learn more about our fear of the natural world, especially insects, we reached out to Robert Bixler, emeritus associate professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management at Clemson University. He told Bored Panda that if we were to grab several hundred children’s books right now, we would find invertebrates such as butterflies, ladybugs, and snails disproportionately used there.
"People who hate bugs love butterflies. Butterflies are insects but are perceived differently from all other insects and small invertebrates," he said. This does beg the question, why do we respond positively to the story-like creatures yet feel annoyance and disgust when it comes to the creepy-crawly ones?
#3
This Is A Wasp Nest That Has Grown Around The Floodlights On A Garage
#4
I Share A New Jaguar Photo With You, Earlier Than I Wanted. Hopefully, You Will Like This Striking Image
The professor explained that people often look at insects in fear because some of them use us as a source of food. "Mosquitoes, horse flies, and gnats, along with pest beetles and moths that get into our food. These insects come around repeatedly to feed on us and annoy us. These repetitive and annoying experiences convince us that we hate bugs," he added.
Another factor to take in is the startle effect. "A vast majority of the million-plus species of insects stay hidden to avoid being eaten. We have never seen them and are surprised when we actually do see these strange creatures" Bixler continued. "[Insects] are perceptually so different than vertebrate animals. They move differently, they make unmusical vibration-like sounds to communicate (e.g., cicadas and katydids all summer long in trees), and eye contact is difficult. From a threat potential perspective, we know that some are harmful and stinging. Yet we know nothing about the other million species. Better to assume the worst," he said.
#5
A Melanistic & Albino Alligator
#6
Started Work This Morning, Put My Headset On, Felt Something Furry In My Ear, Looked And There Is A Bat In My Headset
Rage of Aquarius 2 years ago
Bats do carry an array of diseases. But I think a little rabies is worth befriending a lovely little flying mouse!
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Lysandre Elessa 2 years ago
Where do these people live so that they have so many weird things in their headphones ???
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 2 years ago
Bats are indeed cute. They are also wonderful at eating pesky insects. I wish we would teach people to respect and tolerate them more rather than being fearful of them.
Load More Replies... Joy Hunter 2 years ago
In additional to being adorable, bats are vital to the environment. There is only one species of vampire bats, and they feed on cows; all other species eat fruit or insects. Most species can eat 600-1000 insects AN HOUR, mostly mosquitos. Many species of bats are under threat of extinction via a fungal infection that causes a disease called "white nose disease" or "white nose syndrome." The spread of the infection appears to be climate-change related.
KariLovesHerKat 2 years ago
Ah now this is something i don't mind in my headset. Bats are incredibly sweet
Jane Jane 2 years ago
Yea until they are flying around your head in an enclosed space. Let's see how adorable they are then. BTW, been there, know that.
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Tina B 2 years ago
Officially changing that to 'As snug as a bat in a headset'.
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Mama Panda 2 years ago
Now this is something I would totally be ok with having in my headset. In fact, I would just let it sleep there, maybe cover it up with a teeny tiny blanket.
Alex Boomhower 2 years ago
awww bats are so cute. however I've only ever seen one from a distance so...
Must Be Bored Again 2 years ago
If you ever see a bat out in daylight or on the ground, call animal control because those are signs the bat could have rabies. Other animals-raccoons, wild cats, large or small, coyotes. But I am just talking about USA. Basically don't interact with wild animals especially if they are acting unusual or are out when they should not be. There are quite a few cases of rabies in animals in the USA. Make sure you get you own animals vaccinated to protect them and you. Legally required for dogs in most states.
Dana Ondráčková 2 years ago
I would first freak out thinking its a spider, then I would Just sit There, trying to gently pet it
Betty Rushing 4 months ago (edited)
Always LOOK before you put your feet, hands & head, Everywhere! It was just Looking for a safe place for the day!
dad_puns_assemble 1 year ago
that's kind of adorable. better than a bunch of tiny spiders that would crawl into your brain-
Anthony Evans 2 years ago
Once had taken one away that the cats had somehow caught...cute little fuzzy bugger, until he opened his mouth and started hissing at you.
Faith Nicole 2 years ago
That is too cute. I would freaked out at first as well knowing I just had a bat, on my ear. But at least he's asleep. And hopefully released safely
Lousha 2 years ago
I'd be screaming for an hour non stop after this. I love that bats exist, they are very useful and all that, but they creep me the **** out. You know, Cujo LOL. It's also a thing they say to kids in my country: don't go out after dark because the bats will get stuck in your hair. I always had hair almost down to my bum so the mental image of this happening was horrifying, and to this day it haunts me.
Deanna Crichley 2 years ago
I do hope you got your rabies shots. You might not even notice the tiniest scratch or bite. Their teeth and tails are tiny. By the time you know you have rabies, it could be too late.
Must Be Bored Again 2 years ago
Google "five foot bat" then tell us if you still think they are still so cute!
Joe Reaves 2 years ago
This is so much better than the spider. I love bats (and there's no fear of rabies where I live either).
RoseTheMad 2 years ago
I'd much, MUCH rather have this happen, as opposed to the above spider in the headphones.
Jenny Heit 2 years ago
My friend had a micro bat land in her washing basket and didn't realise (was flying around her room at night and husband chased it downstairs). She wears two bras because she needs extra support, the bat was in the outside bra (got dressed in the dark early morning for work). Basically, she wore a tiny bat in her bra to work all day. Said she kept feeling something scratchy
Jeffrey A. Lockwood, professor of Natural Sciences and Humanities at the University of Wyoming and author of The Infested Mind, told us that at least 6 percent of Americans suffer from entomophobia (fear of insects). "Some studies report that as many as one-in-five women experience this condition in any given year. Conservatively, 20 million people live with an irrational fear of insects and their kin," he added.
"Fear is the heart-pounding response to present danger and anxiety is the disquiet that comes with anticipating danger. In clinical terms, the patient experiencing fear is highly aroused and seeks to escape the situation," Lockwood said. "On the other hand, the anxious patient is worried and focuses attention on possible sources of impending harm."
#7
Moose In Fog
Miss Frankfurter 2 years ago
Beautiful actually. Hope it was taken with a long lense, otherwise, they probably found this picture in the camera beside the body!
#8
Stygian Owl Is Known For The Red Reflection Of Their Eyes That Are Often Associated With The Devil
#9
Dead Man Fingers Fungus
Lockwood mentioned another study of more than 1000 households that revealed that 38 percent of the respondents disliked arthropods in their yards, and 84 percent didn’t want them in their homes: "So an aversion toward insects, if not full-blown entomophobia, is extremely common in our society."
The strong dislike of insects is rooted in six "fear-evoking perceptual properties", Lockwood said. According to him, insects can:
- Invade our homes and bodies,
- Evade us via quick, unpredictable movements, to which it might be added that the furtive skittering of a cockroach, for example, with its head lowered as if slinking out of the room, evokes a sense that the creature is guilty or ashamed,
- Undergo rapid population growth and reach staggeringly large numbers which threaten our sense of individuality,
- Harm us both directly (bite and sting) and indirectly (transmit disease, as well as destroy woodwork, carpets, book bindings, electrical wiring, and food stores),
- Instill a disturbing sense of otherness via their alien bodies — they are real-world monsters associated with madness (e.g., Going Bugs by James Hillman),
- Defy our will and control via a kind of radical, mindless or amoral autonomy.
#10
Man Finds Huge Spider Hiding Inside Ear Muffs After Feeling Tickle In His Ear
#11
Coconut Crabs Are Attracted To The Smell Of Food
#12
Hickory Horned Devil. Largest Caterpillar In The World. Turns Into A Regal Moth. Can Grow 6 Inches Long And Is Completely Harmless Except Visually Terrifying
According to Lockwood, researchers have found three mechanisms through which early experiences can spawn phobias: "Direct experience (e.g., a cockroach runs up a kid’s pant leg), modeling (e.g., a kid sees his mother scream in terror at cockroaches), and instruction (a kid’s father tells her a story about cockroaches burrowing into children’s ears)."
Although most of us developed negative feelings towards these sci-fi-like creatures we call insects, some people find them fascinating. "[They] can become an interest for children and adults. The late Harvard biologist E. O. Wilson has often remarked that children had a 'bug period' and that I never got over mine," Robert Bixler told us.
#13
This Looks Like A Scene From A Movie. Six Waterspouts Simultaneously In The Gulf Of Mexico
#14
Well There Is A Water Snake Living In My Toilet Somehow
Mama Penguin 2 years ago (edited)
See? And I'm the weird one for checking my toilet bowl before I sit.
#15
A Huntsman Spider Stealing My Cousin's Bacon
"[We] probably share childhood experiences of playing outside a lot in wild and semi-wild locations. Children have great eyesight and find, observe and play with lots of different insects that adults otherwise would miss," Bixler added. "Some local nature centers that have the job of helping people develop an interest in nearby nature are starting to create BUGket Lists — 90 insects every kid needs to find before they reach the age of 12."
#16
Infested Spider Tent
#17
Found In A Harpy Eagle's Nest
#18
The Giant Devil’s Flower Mantis Looks Like Something That Crawled Out Of Hell
Even those alarmed by the strange and terrifying power insects have can fight their fear of the natural world by identifying the creatures they see. "People who are frightened by insects and spiders can find web pages showing the common stinging, biting insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates (centipedes) found in their area," Bixler explained.
Another way would be to learn about their weird shapes and colorations. To be fair, we often fail to grasp the reason for all those horns and spines and long jaws. Bixler said that, for example, the female ichneumon wasp has what looks like a two to four-inch-long stinger. "Scares the hell out of people when they first see it. [But it] cannot sting at all. That 'stinger' is an egg-laying device (ovipositor) she inserts into tunnels made by beetles to lay eggs on the beetle larva," he explained.
#19
Was Playing Video Games When I Heard Sounds To My Left. Looked Over And Saw This
#20
The Creatonotos Gangis Moth Unfurling Its “Hair-Pencils” To Spread Pheromones
#21
Went Into My Attic Looking For A Water Leak Coming Into My Living Room And It Appears That I'm Also In Quarantine With This Whatever Monstrosity Left This Behind
It's soft to the touch so I'm assuming it's still around.
"Once people get over their fear of insects, going on an insect safari can be full of fascinating surprises. Going out to look for ant lions and tiger beetles in your neighboring parks is much cheaper than a wildlife safari to some distant continent to see lions and tigers. The incredible variety of shapes, behaviors, and colorations of insects make them an excellent focus for nature photographers — you simply need to go looking for them in the right places — they will not come to you," Bixler concluded.
#22
This Cluster Of Fossilised Creatures Look Like They Came From Another Planet
#23
Sometimes Mother Nature Can Be Creepy (Chesaning, MI)
#24
Does Anyone Know What Kind Of Puppy This Is?
#25
Snapdragon Seed Pods Are Kind Of Creepy
#26
Found This In My Apartment While Living In Japan. They Are Fast
Susie Elle 2 years ago
The one creature I may actually find more terrifying that spiders. It's the legs.
#27
Angler Fish Washed Ashore
Kasey Mauro 2 years ago
Wow! Must have come a long way since they typically live deeper in the ocean!
#28
This Moray Tried To Swallow A Pufferfish. Said Puffer Took Her With Him
#29
Heron Likes A Bit Of Crocodilian Dinner
Jaguarundi 2 years ago
'Later gator. I see that pretty often this time of year in the bypass canals.
#30
This Harmless Snail
#31
Remember To Check Your VR Headset For Spiders
#32
I Freaked Out A Little When I Met This While Cross Country Skiing
#33
Who's That Pokémon?
#34
All The Brown You Can See Is Spiders
#35
Apparently, A Species Of Guarana Plant Looks Like A Large Cluster Of Eyeballs
#36
The Most Metal Eel Ever
#37
It's The Legs For Me
#38
Ceiling Snake
#39
This Is A Wolf Eel, Pure Oceanic Nightmare Fuel
Mama Penguin 2 years ago
When the date doesn't go well, but the person still tries to kiss you.
#40
Mouth Of A Emerald Boa
#41
Sigh. This Is My Bathroom Ceiling, That Is A Brush-Tailed Possum Foot
#42
Small Tick Sucking On A Big One
#43
The Wallago Attu Catfish
#44
Australian Problems
#45
These Button Plants (Conophytum Wittebergense) Look Like Creepy Bloodshot Eyes
#46
For All The Naysayers Who Think The Rest Of Us Are Paranoid
Mama Penguin 2 years ago (edited)
I turn my shoes upside down and bang them on the floor beforehand. Traumatized by squeezing a cockroach inside my shoe when I was a child.
#47
An Old Friend
#48
The Foot Of A Kangaroo
crazy_cat_notAlady 2 years ago
that's nature giving us the middle finger. just don't f**k with kangaroos man.
#49
I Have Been Losing My Mind Over How My Work Shoes Are Always Spotless In The Morning After Being Out On My Porch Overnight
I wore different shoes to work last night and I found out why when I came home. There were about 50 and they only exist because of flour on my shoes.
Add New Image
What do you think ?
sanityisnotproven 2 years ago (edited)
Need to have faith in the BP title before choosing a before bed post to read.
KariLovesHerKat 2 years ago
I really couldn't finish it because I'm just feeling weird now. But it was interesting. Sickening but interesting
foxgirl158 2 years ago
I feel like I need to shower for a million years. And also burn my house down
Glittery Panda 2 years ago (edited)
Here is a safe space. Please, help yourself to anything on the menu. Menu: Eye Bleach, Brain Bleach, Everything Bleach, Soothing Tea, Ice Cream (because ice cream makes everything better) And, of course, complimentary tissues. 🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧 Enjoy!
Ꮋꭼꮮꮮꭺ-ꮪꮻꮜꭱꮯꭺɴꭰꭹ 2 years ago
as soon as i clicked on this post I was not surprised there was only 174
Sunny Topia 1 year ago
Dang, now I need to be extra careful with double checks of everything ...🤐🥲
Fred the rat king 2 years ago
The spiders on this made me wish the British gun laws were less strict
Marion Friedl 2 years ago
Not all of them are creepy, some´re funny, some´re even cute, but I´m wondering about the animals coming through ceilings, do those guys all have paper ceilings??? Ours in the skyscraper´re all made of concrete, like the walls are either.
Ezekiel Frye 2 years ago
Now just think about how scary the human race is compared to all that, terrifying
The only Plueschopossum 2 years ago (edited)
My SO and I made a bike trip last summer. On the first evening (it was already dark) we leaned our bikes against a loooong line of bushes, set up our tent and went to sleep. On the next morning when I wanted to get our bikes I saw that a big wasp spider had built a neat net on my bike Ok, fine... and just a few centimeters next to it another one in another net. So i stopped to take a closer look. In fact, this whole line of bushes was occupied by wasp spiders. Each one had a net and some of them had used the night to build their homes on our bikes or between our bikes and the bushes. It was quite a creepy sight... :D (And yes, we claimed our bikes back!)
Ana Ferreira 2 years ago
I've been humming "put that thing back where it came from, or so help me" throughout the whole post.
PixieVonBehr 2 years ago
There's a lot to dislike about living in the UK but thank goodness we have nothing like these creatures! All we have is Adders and I've never met anyone who has been bitten by one
Inflatablelover 2 years ago
Welp, because of this I found some really cool creatures, and some creatures that made me want to crawl up in my bed and not come out for a while
sanityisnotproven 2 years ago (edited)
Need to have faith in the BP title before choosing a before bed post to read.
KariLovesHerKat 2 years ago
I really couldn't finish it because I'm just feeling weird now. But it was interesting. Sickening but interesting
foxgirl158 2 years ago
I feel like I need to shower for a million years. And also burn my house down
Glittery Panda 2 years ago (edited)
Here is a safe space. Please, help yourself to anything on the menu. Menu: Eye Bleach, Brain Bleach, Everything Bleach, Soothing Tea, Ice Cream (because ice cream makes everything better) And, of course, complimentary tissues. 🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧 Enjoy!
Ꮋꭼꮮꮮꭺ-ꮪꮻꮜꭱꮯꭺɴꭰꭹ 2 years ago
as soon as i clicked on this post I was not surprised there was only 174
Sunny Topia 1 year ago
Dang, now I need to be extra careful with double checks of everything ...🤐🥲
Fred the rat king 2 years ago
The spiders on this made me wish the British gun laws were less strict
Marion Friedl 2 years ago
Not all of them are creepy, some´re funny, some´re even cute, but I´m wondering about the animals coming through ceilings, do those guys all have paper ceilings??? Ours in the skyscraper´re all made of concrete, like the walls are either.
Ezekiel Frye 2 years ago
Now just think about how scary the human race is compared to all that, terrifying
The only Plueschopossum 2 years ago (edited)
My SO and I made a bike trip last summer. On the first evening (it was already dark) we leaned our bikes against a loooong line of bushes, set up our tent and went to sleep. On the next morning when I wanted to get our bikes I saw that a big wasp spider had built a neat net on my bike Ok, fine... and just a few centimeters next to it another one in another net. So i stopped to take a closer look. In fact, this whole line of bushes was occupied by wasp spiders. Each one had a net and some of them had used the night to build their homes on our bikes or between our bikes and the bushes. It was quite a creepy sight... :D (And yes, we claimed our bikes back!)
Ana Ferreira 2 years ago
I've been humming "put that thing back where it came from, or so help me" throughout the whole post.
PixieVonBehr 2 years ago
There's a lot to dislike about living in the UK but thank goodness we have nothing like these creatures! All we have is Adders and I've never met anyone who has been bitten by one
Inflatablelover 2 years ago
Welp, because of this I found some really cool creatures, and some creatures that made me want to crawl up in my bed and not come out for a while
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