19 Photos that reminded us how terrifying nature is

Camping in the great outdoors can be an extremely fun year-round activity—as long as you’re properly prepared for it. Although, any experienced camper will tell you that regardless of how much you prepare, nature can still intervene to mess up your day.

These images are sure to make you think twice before grabbing your pack and heading to the woods or lake. At the very least, maybe other people’s misfortunes will help you avoid similar ones.

Nothing Like Pooping In The Great Outdoors

If doing your business in the bush isn’t for you, then neither is camping.

This make-shift redneck toilet is a bucket and toilet seat attached to the trailer hitch of a truck. How do they decide who has to change the garbage bag?

Man Is Allergic To The World

This poor guy’s immune system is not on his team.

In a needle prick test used to determine local allergens, this man reacted to every single one. It’s probably best for him to simply avoid going outdoors ever again.

Bear Prints Outside The Tent In The Morning Are Not A Good Sign

This person’s own shoe print was tread over by a bear in the middle of the night, immediately outside their tent opening.

An ominous reminder that something on the campsite smelled good enough for the bear to come check out.

A Tarantula Hawk Wasp Eats A Huntsman Spider

Somehow the giant Australian huntsman spider is the least scary part of this image.

Adequately named, the tarantula hawk wasp carries the large dead spider away to enjoy its meal.

Beware Of Stealthy Bear

These campers and their dog are completely oblivious to the massive threat that’s creeping up behind them from the back corner of the picture.

Let’s hope they brought bear spray, and that the camera isn’t the only thing to have noticed the beast lurking in the background.

The Last Tree You’d Ever Want To Fall Down

This tree is a physical representation of putting up emotional barriers.

The massive spikes protruding from the trunk are sure to keep anything and everything away from this prickly giant.

You Can Avoid Camping, But You Can’t Avoid Nature

Never heard the coyote cry around a campfire, or listened to a pack take down prey in the distance?

Don’t worry, if you live close enough to the outskirts of a city, the coyotes may come to you. This one seems like it may have snatched up someone’s pet cat to take back home with it.

There Are Land Pigs, And Then There Are Sea Pigs

The “sea pig” is a sea cucumber found in the deepest and darkest depths of the ocean.

We’re used to horror shows down there, but this little cucumber is pink, adorable, and scuttling right into our hearts. Just don’t try and make bacon with it.

This Ant Is The Waterboy For Its Entire Nest

This big booty Judy is the “honeypot” ant.

This ant is essentially the waterboy for the colony since it will drink as much fluid as possible so when other ants get tired they can have water on tap. The “tap” is this ant vomiting.

Mother Finds A Butterfly In The Making

The eye socket of this skull is now home to a butterfly-to-be. I wonder why it chose to rest here and not somewhere a little safer.

That head could get taken at any moment.

Would You Swim Here?

The water here looks really blue, but the cave monster looks a bit creepy. How did the rocks form into such a perfect face?

There’s probably some hidden treasure in there.

Teeth In A Squid’s Suction Cup

People who have no knowledge of how suction cups work probably never knew that there are teeth in them.

As scary as it might seem, this is still nature at its coolest and most interesting. Just keep the squids away from me.

This Bird Wasn’t Ready

Someone said they heard some noise on their roof and this was it. Nature battling it out on your roof like this seems pretty intense.

How do you sleep at night?

The Menacing Black Heron

What makes these things so menacing? Well, it has to deal with the way they hunt, which is pretty clever.

This bird creates a shady spot that tricks the fish into revealing themselves.

Burn It Down

If you want to talk about something gross, pull this image up. Those worms range from large to tiny, but they’re all over the place.

That thing needs to get burned as soon as possible. Looking at this might give you the creeps, but you’ll be okay.

That’s A Sawfish

Swimming in places that have things like this in the water needs to be illegal. Even if you’re on a boat, you shouldn’t be allowed near anything that can slice you in half by turning its head.

That saw is longer than Pinocchio’s nose, and it doesn’t have a conscience. You’re as good as gone if you get in the way of that.

Let The Lava Flow…Away From Us

You’ve heard about lava, but have you ever been up close and personal to it? It’s pretty powerful stuff that can pretty much go through anything.

The greenery here stands no chance against those flames and that heat. One touch and the whole bush might dissolve.

Crabs Invade Campsite

During the blue crab mating season, hordes of crabs will migrate to their spawning location.

Sometimes their path brings them into contact with unsuspecting people, like these campers hanging out on their campsite as it is invaded by the crustaceans.

The Way Into The Spider-Verse

If you wanted some spider powers or needed to find the spider-verse entrance, here is it. All you have to do is get permission from this treacherous wolf spider guarding the front.

Maybe it’s best to stay away. Nobody needs spider powers that much.