Fear factor alone.

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I clicked on the link and saw a close-up of this monster's head with its huge claws (or is that spikes?) without any prior warning about distressing content...

I clicked on the link and saw a close-up of this monster's head with its huge claws (or is that spikes?) without any prior warning about distressing content...

I take it that you mean those venom dripping fangs?

Cheers.

Now, Mr. McDuck. Did the picture bring back a bad memory of a doctors office and being jabbed in your backside with your pants down? Lol.

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I take it that you mean those venom dripping fangs?

Yes!

Now, Mr. McDuck. Did the picture bring back a bad memory of a doctors office and being jabbed in your backside with your pants down? Lol.

Surely arachnophobia.

We have no harmful spiders in Germany. In the past Garden spiders were the most "harmful" (up to 20 millimeters, less than 1 inch. We call them "Kreuzspinne" (crossed spider). They can hardly bite through your skin; only where it is really thin; their venom is harmless. Now, there are increasingly reports about species from the warmer Mediterranean climate that are becoming native here. You suddenly observe a spider you don't know, never seen before... Last summer, for the first time I saw a so-called Wasp Spider (from Southern Europe) in my parent's garden; totally harmless; but it looks dangerous... a non-welcoming side-effect of climate change.

The rumours and fairytales of Aussies about their spiders and snakes frightened me when visiting Australia. E.g. these small 'Redbacks' in Western Australia... I observed to stay on paved paths (my mind warns me: snakes everywhere!), cautiously monitored where to sit down or not to carelessly grab something from the ground. It would take me years to feel comfortable in nature in Australia.

That's why I prefer Scandinavia, especially north of the polar circle.

There some of those nasties here in North America. My friend thought he step on a small brown looking spider between 1-2 cm with his bare foot. Now he has a small hole where they had to cut out the necrotic tissue. Probably a Fiddleback. Snakes… I seen one that learned to go fishing. It had a fish a little bit bigger than its head swimming across the water.

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The *Brown Recluse spider is another bad one we see in Texas quite a bit that will leave a painful lasting impact from its bite.

*The brown recluse is a recluse spider with necrotic venom. Similar to those of other recluse spiders, their bites sometimes require medical attention.

In my area of suburban South Fort Worth, I won't go barefoot in my grass because of these spiders, fire ants and small reddish scorpions that will sting you.

I guess there was no fresh roadrunners to snack on in the Chicago parks.
Cops Rescue Coyote From Humboldt Park Aldi In Viral Video

A video of the incident shared widely on social media shows two officers standing in a refrigerated section of the store with a broom and dustpan as they move inventory to try to secure the animal.

One of the officers then reaches into the refrigerator and grabs the coyote’s tail. The officer pulls on it until the animal is fully removed, but it is then seen immediately leaping back into the refrigerated section, according to the video.

(I tried to post this earlier but that post is not showing up. Let's see if I can make it work.)

‘Lonely’ Sunfish Comforted by Cardboard Cutouts of People After Aquarium Closes Due to Renovations

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~Sue~

Interesting.

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Super Enzyme That Controls Testosterone Found in “Crazy” Bird Species

A gene regulating testosterone in ruffs produces three male morphs with unique behaviors, offering insights into vertebrate biology and potential human therapeutic applications.

A single gene regulating testosterone levels in a “crazy” species of shorebird has been found to control the development of three wildly different male types, according to an international study involving researchers at Simon Fraser University.

Ruffs have long fascinated scientists for their three types of males, known as morphs, that differ radically from each other in appearance and mating behaviors.

Blood-Powered Toes Give ‘Skydiving’ Salamanders a Boost

Skydiving Salamanders would be a good name for a rock band.

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~Sue~

Home invader gets more than he bargained for.

Terrifying footage shows the moment an octopus latches onto a snorkeller and sprays blinding ink in his face after its home was disturbed.

This is the terrifying moment an aggressive octopus latches onto a snorkeller and nearly strangles him after its home was disturbed.

Viral footage showed the eight-limbed creature in a nightmare scenario with a terrified diver off the coast of far eastern Russia.

The diver had used a pole to poke the octopus’s burrow, before the sea creature hit back by shooting a cloud of ink and latching onto the diver’s hands.

The incident – which occurred near Primorsky Krai, Russia, earlier this month – then escalated as the snorkeller realised he could not detach from the tough marine mollusc.

He struggled to pull the octopus off, which only made the sea animal tighten its grip and go for the man’s neck.

Its blinding ink continued to spread, further confusing the dumbfounded diver.

Panicking, the frightened man then tried to rip the octopus off himself, which had stuck on using its extremely strong suction cups......

He'll think twice before he invades another home.

Um,... uh,.... Spiders!

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~Sue~

My missus was an arachnophobe too Suzie.

If they didn't bother me I didn't bother them.

But most do serve a purpose in life, just like snakes.

Though I wouldn't sleep with either.

Cheers.

My missus was an arachnophobe too Suzie.

If they didn't bother me I didn't bother them.

But most do serve a purpose in life, just like snakes.

Though I wouldn't sleep with either.

Cheers.

I am definitely not an arachnophobe. I love the little guys.

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~Sue~

Don't blame the Alligator most of the time...
Human–Alligator Incidents in the United States: Risky Human Behaviors Cause Most “Attacks”

Abstract
Interactions between humans and American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis), often resulting in negative outcomes for both participants, have occurred for centuries in the United States. As both populations increased over time, contact and conflict with one another became inevitable. Although human–alligator conflicts have been well documented, there has been no detailed classification of risk factors associated with human activities immediately preceding, and in most cases precipitating, an encounter. Herein, we provide a ranking system to categorize different human activities, based on risk levels, immediately preceding an encounter with an alligator. To complete our review in 2021, we initially gleaned data regarding alligator attacks on humans from the CrocBITE website between the years 1734 and 2021. We augmented the details of each incident with additional information obtained by an internet search (e.g., Google) and then cross-referenced all information with existing literature (e.g., books detailing specific human–alligator interactions) and by communicating via email and/or telephone with state fish and wildlife agencies. Our ranking system indicated that 96% (26% low risk, 48% moderate risk, 22% high risk) of the recorded human–alligator incidents reviewed were caused by some level of human inattention in the form of risky behaviors, often while participating in recreational water activities. These results highlight the need for increased and targeted public education concerning safe and responsible human activities in areas inhabited by alligators. By making a conscious effort to implement proactive and preventative safety measures, human injury and death as well as the needless destruction of alligators can be reduced.

As both populations increased over time [...]

Why do alligator populations increase over time? Because of improved food supply due to the 'other' increasing population? Just kidding.

Don't blame the Alligator most of the time...

Who’s on the menu goes both ways. If you give them a chance, they’ll award you with a Darwin”. Mother Nature will quickly deprive you of your life.

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‘Very brave’ man’s quick thinking helps him avoid death by polar bear: video

Sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes the bear eats you – unless you run really fast.

A Norwegian worker narrowly avoided being a polar bear’s dinner in a wild recent encounter caught on video.

The man is seen in the footage first firing off a round from his rifle to try to warn the bear off from the Arctic town of Pyramiden.

The ploy doesn’t work, and the polar bear, whose species can reach speeds of 25 mph, gives chase.

The man then tosses his rifle and sprints toward a nearby snowmobile, bear-ly escaping with his life as he speeds away.