There is a saying 'the Devil is in the details,' but for all we know he may well just be hiding in tree branches and our very own toilets in the form of wild creatures. 

From evil-looking birds to nosy grizzlies, and a gazillion of different forms of daddy longlegs, it's safe to assume that not all encounters with wildlife are pleasant. Some of the furry bastards venture into the comfort of our homes, refuse to pay rent and serve as a chilling reminder that beauty, truly, is in the eye of the beholder. After preparing this scary list for you, we rather admire nature from a safe distance for a while, thanks. 

#1 The Security Sytem, Striking At Crime, One Lock At A Time

Image credits: Fritzkreig

In an era dominated by technological marvels and the promised land of the metaverse, we often find solace in the embrace of nature. Its picturesque landscapes, harmonious melodies, and staggering mountains have long served as a respite from the chaos of urban life, sure. Just a quick glance (and an echoey shout) at The Grand Canyon, one of the most breathtaking geological phenomenon in the world, and all is clear.

Yet, behind its façade of tranquility lies a wild, wild world teeming with unfathomable terror, lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce upon the unsuspecting travelers - something that has inspired countless horror classics, including Steven Spielberg's Jaws (1975). But with about 86% of land species and 91% of sea species still remaining undiscovered as of today, there's plenty of spine-chilling inspiration yet to be uncovered for future blockbusters and bestsellers.

#2 Let’s Go Paddle Boarding, They Said

Image credits: James Taylor

Australia, the land down under, for example, is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and unique wildlife (some of which is terrifyingly good at boxing). However, nestled amidst this natural splendor lies a spine-tingling, eight-legged secret — a staggering number of spider species that call this continent home.

Australia's spider diversity is nothing short of a marvel, with over 2,400 identified species lurking in its vast territories (with around 50,000 more spider species "out there to discover," according to new data). From the venomous and infamous Sydney funnel-web spider to the peculiar peacock spider with its dazzling courtship dance, this arachnid-infested paradise leaves even the bravest souls with a lingering sense of unease. God bless the arachnophobic residents who live there.

#3 Asperitas Clouds - Gorham, NH

Image credits: Crystal Lee

#4 Upside-Down Dried-Out Aloe Ferox Leaves Which The Sea Washed Ashore, Why Nature?

Image credits: jan.vorster26

#5 I Saw Some Ants Carrying A Glove Up A Lamp

Image credits: ri4nn3

While it's predators like lions and sharks or bald eagles that strike fear in our hearts, it is the tiny, inconspicuous creatures that often hold the deadliest secrets. Take the cordyceps fungus, for example — a seemingly innocuous fungus. But what lies beneath its unassuming exterior is an uncanny ability to unleash havoc on a massive scale, as HBO’s The Last Of Us proved to TV viewers.

Often referred to simply as the “zombie-ant fungus" for its ability to take over ants' bodies and control them, it quickly got everyone's attention after the now best-selling video game franchise of the same name (The Last Of Us) pondered if humanity's worst nightmare might be hiding in a couple of mushrooms. Rest assured, dear pandas, the cordyceps fungus can't turn humans into zombies. Dodged that bullet!

#6 Gators At Night In Florida

Image credits: bobbywummerphotography

#7 Don't Know Whether To Put The Drying Clothes Back Inside Or Repent From My Sins

Image credits: JoyfulAccuracy

#8 These Clouds That Look Like The Ocean

Image credits: iwanttogoh0me

And yet, besides thalassophobia, arachnophobia and all other phobias that Mother Nature was kind enough to distill in us, thanks to the mesmerizing horrors its fury warriors produce simply by living amongst us - there's another phobia that's more frightening than all other fears. Say hello to 'biophobia.'

"Biophobia represents the negative emotions, such as fear, disgust, and aversion, that some individuals may feel towards certain aspects of nature," Masashi Soga, an ecologist at the University of Tokyo, who specializes in the psychological benefits of nature, told Bored Panda in an email.

"These innate negative responses are typically directed at specific natural stimuli, such as dark forests, bears, snakes, or spiders. Biophobia is thought to have a genetic component and involves innate physiological responses to elements of nature that might pose harm."

#9 Sioux Falls, SD Turned Green (No Filter) During A Huge Storm Tonight

Image credits: SoDakZak

#10 Was Told To Post Him Here. Just Casually Chilling In Our Beach House Bathroom

Image credits: ilyket

#11 Was Mowing The Lawn And Discovered This Absolute Unit Of A Stick Insect, ~35cm

Image credits: DerangedDog1

While Soga's main field revolves around 'biophilia,' the yin of biophobia, which, according to him, "refers to the innate affinity that humans have towards life and living systems," the research paper that he helped to produce claims that the cases of biophobia are on the rise and that should equally worry us as gargantuan spiders on our doorstep. 

#12 I Keep My Duck Eggs In My Pantry And Heard A Lot Of Commotion In There And Found This

Second picture - another view of the pantry snakes. Slowly digesting the fresh duck egg.

Image credits: Rezenebe

#13 Giant Male Dobsonfly

Image credits: GoldenChinchilla

#14 Look At This Turtle! It Surfaced By The Boat

Image credits: Niemeyer's Rugged River Resort

"Undoubtedly, growing biophobia can have detrimental impacts on biodiversity conservation. People's perceptions of nature play a crucial role in shaping their attitudes towards it, which, in turn, influences their pro-biodiversity behavior," he explained.

As behavioral change is a key factor in conservation efforts, numerous policies are being implemented to encourage pro-biodiversity actions. However, the prevalence of biophobia can hinder individuals' willingness to engage in positive behaviors, resulting in a negative collective impact on both local and global biodiversity.

#15 Mother-Centipede Hugging Her Babies

Image credits: Get_Win

#16 This Banana Blossom

Image credits: PepperMillCam

#17 The Horrific Mouth Of A Lamprey (Bloodsucking Parasite). This One Was Over 120cm (47”) Long And As Thick As A Man’s Arm

Their mouth is full of razor-sharp spikey teeth designed to attach themselves to a fish. It then use its tongue (which also has many teeth on it!) to bore into the flesh of fish and drink their blood. Sometimes they also attack humans.

Image credits: monster_fish_taxidermy

It's not that surprising, then, that urbanization is the major catalyst for the growing prevalence of biophobia. "As urban areas expand, people's direct experiences of and knowledge about nature often diminishes. Research suggests that individuals who had limited exposure to nature during childhood or possess less familiarity with it are more likely to develop negative perceptions of wild organisms," Soga said, noting that the media's not-so-surprising exaggeration of wildlife-related incidents plays a big part in this.

#18 You Don't See This Every Day - A Catfish Eating An Armadillo

Image credits: Pablo_The_Diablo

#19 Tarantula Infected With Cordycipitaceae

Image credits: Ian Suzuki

#20 At A Nature Park We Decided To Go To A Bird Show. The Young Boy In The Green Kept Pulling His Zipper Up And Down. The Wedge-Tailed Eagle Did Not Like It

And instead of flying over to the log he is meant to for a photo opportunity he flew straight at the young boy. The show was quickly canceled and the boy was taken off to first aid. Those talons are huge he was a very lucky young boy.

Image credits: 55chris

To break the cycle of biophobia, then, researchers emphasize the crucial role of education. It is particularly important to target children, as studies consistently show that early exposure to nature in a safe setting, whether through teachers or parents, significantly influences their attitudes towards the natural world.

"Unless we address this cycle," Soga explained, "biophobia is likely to continue growing in the future, thereby negatively impacting biodiversity conservation efforts." And unless we want another disaster on our hands, we better act fast. 

#21 The Snapdragon Flower When It Dies

Image credits: ICantTyping

#22 A Spider Came Back To Molt In The Same Place On A Book 4 Times

Image credits: Yoddlydoddly

#23 Wasps Emerging From A Statue

Image credits: EXTSZombiemaster

#24 It Has The Body Of A Spider And Wings Of A Moth - (Northeast Oklahoma) Fat Moth Or Butterfly (Flying Tarantula)

Image credits: NerJaro

#25 Crack Near Where I Live

Image credits: fartfan141

#26 Just Bought A Minivan From A Friend A Few Weeks Ago, Kept Getting Spiderwebs In The Car, And Decided To Bug-Bomb It. Found These

Image credits: SoNotCool

#27 My Friend's Plant That Looks Like Tarantula's Legs

Image credits: officialdiscoking

#28 This Snake Was Found Coiled Inside A Toilet

Image credits: Frank Curtis

#29 An Artichoke I Was Eating Had Teeth Of Its Own

Image credits: kadavids23

#30 I Forgot A Bag Of Potatoes In My Room Go About 3 Months, And They’re Literally Sprouting Through The Joints

Image credits: mtlnd

#31 The New Child Safety Latch Is Working A Treat

Image credits: -rock-bobster-

#32 150 Tarantula Spiderlings Produced In My Bedroom

Image credits: captiandad421

#33 Wasp vs. Huntsman. I’m Never Going Outside Again

Image credits: Vampsgold

#34 Leaving A Picnic Unattended In Australia

Image credits: PM_me_yr_bonsai_tips

#35 One Of The Weirdest Deep Sea Creatures

Image credits: rfedortsov_official_account

#36 This Stump I Came Across That Looks Like A Wooden Sarlacc

Image credits: Viacra

#37 Looks Like A Creature From A Tim Burton Movie

Image credits: rfedortsov_official_account

#38 This Is George. He Lives In My Bathroom And Eats Bugs

Image credits: ricardovalomas

#39 Tick On A Tick That Was Latching On To My Dog

Image credits: agodcherry

#40 Got In My Car Last Night, Turned Around, And Saw This. Australia’s "Huntsman" Spider. A Big One

Image credits: theblackbeltsurfer

#41 Spider Hiding In My Apartment Peephole

Image credits: barely18characters

#42 This Sea Creature

Image credits: rfedortsov_official_account

#43 Tongue-Eating Louse In Carpenter Fish

Image credits: ocean_ecstasea

#44 Was About To Sleep When I Found This Guy On My Pillow

Image credits: rometickles

#45 Mushrooms Growing Off Of A Stuffed Bear

Image credits: Mush4Brains-

#46 A Soot-Covered Spiderweb

Image credits: gynecologuy

#47 Found In A House In Eastern Oregon (High Desert Area). Described As “Oozing” When Touched

Image credits: ecanem63

#48 About To Start My Home Workout And Saw This Guy Hanging Out On My Deadball (Australia)

Image credits: Mentiroso1

#49 One Of The Weirdest Things I've Caught In My House (Southern California)

Image credits: RC-Compton

#50 This Person Went To His Rice Paddy For Some Work And Returned To This

Image credits: savage-dragon