Mother nature is glorious. With a wide variety of flora and fauna making up the ecosystem, some questionable-looking plants and animals have us wondering why they even exist. From spiders hiding in weird places to crabs joining a barbecue, Mother Nature can be scary as hell. Join us as we take a look at 45 of the scariest pics, courtesy of dear Mother Nature.
Fingers or Fungus?
Imagine walking in a forest or the woods, and you come across this scary sight. No one would blame you for thinking you came across a corpse in a shallow grave. You’re actually looking at a fungus called Dead Man’s Fingers.
Typically found in Europe and North America, this freaky-looking fungus is responsible for many calls to rangers and law enforcement from hikers who have stumbled across the Dead Man’s Fingers and thought it was something more sinister. Of all the things Mother Nature could have chosen to create, she made this, scaring unsuspecting hikers every year.
A Flock of Birds… or Is It?
This photo required a second look to understand what was actually going on. This is not a flock of birds but hundreds of flies trapped in the web of a rather large spider.
Imagine opening your curtains in the morning and being greeted by this sight! In our opinion, a situation like this can only be dealt with by using a flamethrower, but closing the drapes is a cheaper and safer option.
Jaws of Death
Geese are generally beautiful creatures – until they open their beaks, that is. This goose opened its beak to reveal a rather scary-looking mouth, complete with what looked like razor-sharp teeth.
Thanks to Mother Nature, a whole lot of people will be changing their perceptions about these birds. And to be honest, we’re definitely in that group.
A Surprise From Under the Waves
Ever been in an up close and personal encounter with a sea lion? We’re betting that this underwater photographer got a little more than he bargained for when he came face to face with this majestic sea lion.
While they aren’t exactly known for their sweet manner, sea lions are curious by nature. This chap was probably just checking out what was going on rather than looking for a tasty snack.
Honey, Get the Flamethrower!
You get spiders, and then you get huntsman spiders. Cue high-pitched terror shrieks! This massive spider was photographed in a house in Australia.
While we know that huntsman spiders are harmless to humans and great for ridding your home of flies and other creepy crawlies, they’re not exactly a welcome sight when you walk into your living room in the morning. Mother Nature sure has a sense of humor because we can’t imagine any other reason for a spider to be THAT big. C’mon now!
Toilet Snake
You wake up in the middle of the night, bursting to use the toilet, you stumble to the bathroom, still in a sleepy haze, turn on the light, and see this not-so-little guy staring straight back at you.
Bet you didn’t know snakes can come up through the pipes into your toilet! Just when we were getting used to the fact that snakes are a wonderful creation by Mother Nature, she makes them evolve into toilet snakes! All we can say is, “No, thank you very much!”
Becoming One With Nature
Camping can be a great way to get outdoors and experience all that Mother Nature has to offer. But when you wake up on a beautiful morning, wondering why your tent is dark, and you see this… we’re sure it’s enough to put you off camping for life.
One or two spiders wouldn’t be too bad, but these campers were welcomed by ALL the spiders. It’s enough to make your skin crawl. Ugh!
Things That Go Bump in the Night
Hearing strange noises at night is enough to scare anybody. But the person who took this photograph probably got the fright of his life when he came face to face with a large brown bear. While he was probably expecting to see a dog, cat, or raccoon, one can only imagine his reaction when he turned on the porch light and saw this guy.
Since we don’t know where the photo was taken, we can’t give you a heads up, but just be careful when checking out noise in your yard at night. You never know what you’ll find…
What a Beautiful Puppy
Ever seen a snail so big that it’s the size of a puppy or a small dog? The African snail is one of the largest snails in the world and is a popular pet for many people.
Why anyone would want a snail as a pet is baffling, but each to their own. Mother Nature sure does make some interesting creatures, and this is just another one that’ll leave you scratching your head in amazement.
Eel Vs. Puffer Fish
This moray eel bit off more than he could chew when he decided to make a meal out of a puffer fish. Pufferfish are known for expanding in size to ward off predators. This one must have had a delayed reaction to being eaten by the eel as it inflated itself in the eel’s mouth, resulting in the death of both creatures.
This unusual sight was captured by scuba diver Tim Mayer on the Cook Islands and has become a popular photo that depicts Mother Nature’s battle of predator versus prey at its finest.
