Jarring Nature Photos Must be Seen to be Believed

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In 1989, a gigantic wave hit this lighthouse in France. Jean Guichard, a photographer, was able to capture the event on film. The man looks like a tiny dot as compared to the tumultuous wave that seems to topple the lighthouse. Now, we have an immortal reminder of the massive destruction that nature can do as well with its corresponding beauty.

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Raccoons are elusive animals. However, this photo tells us that they can also be very sociable. Thirty years ago, a woman who went on a camping trip heard some strange noises in the middle of the night. So, she peeked through her tent’s flap and took a candid photo of the surprisingly adorable culprits—a dozen or so raccoons!

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Most spiders leave their eggs in silky sacks. Once these eggs hatch, the baby spiders fend for themselves and are vulnerable to various wild predators. The wolf spider, however, is different. It carries its tiny children on its back, protecting them from danger. These younglings stay with their mother until they get big enough to hunt the prey for themselves.

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Many people report rampant sightings of mermaids in the Arctic. However, this photo shows the close-up of a beluga whale’s lower body that looks like human legs wrapped within its tail. So, perhaps these animals are being mistaken for sirens frolicking in the deep waters of the sea, don’t you think?

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Elephants, like humans, take a long time to mature. Elephants generally require 15 to 20 years before they cross into adulthood. So, it is expected that baby elephants can be as clumsy as human toddlers. This tiny elephant finds himself stuck in a manhole. As cute as he looks, it would have taken great strength to pull him out of the gaping crevice.

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Black bears are notoriously known for being apex predators. One of the scariest situations may be finding yourself pursued by a bear that can easily overtake you, even when you’re riding a bicycle. This photo was taken in Alaska. As much as its caption aptly describes the bear’s possible primal intention, we cannot help but think of the bicycle rider.

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Did you know that Sylvester Stallone’s turtles way back from the Rocky movie are still alive today? Stallone’s character previously presented them as gifts to his on-screen girlfriend, Adrian. After finishing the movie, Stallone took them as pets. They’re already 44 years old and still thriving at present. In fact, Stallone plans to have them included in a cameo appearance for Creed 2.

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This photo shows a comparison between the ancient megalodon and the modern-day great white shark. The megalodon is presumed to have quickly reached a length of 60 feet and a weight of 40,000 pounds or more. Scientists assert that it is the largest predators to have ever existed on earth. Thankfully, the species went extinct after the Pliocene era.

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Goats can climb trees. In Morocco, they climb a specific tree called the Argania or Argan tree. They do so to get to the argan tree’s fruits. The nuts are said to be so delicious that even the goats can’t seem to get enough of them. Nevertheless, the goats look hilarious as they sit atop the argan trees that way.

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Michio Hoshino is a Japanese, award-winning photographer who devoted himself to the Alaskan wildlife. In 1996, while camping near Kurilskoye Lake in Russia, a brown bear entered his tent and he managed to take this one last photo before encountering his unexpected tent-guest.

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No one wants to mess with a skunk. Skunks are known for being smelly as they spray would-be predators with a foul-smelling liquid. Found in both North and South America, the skunk is closely linked to the weasel. This image captures the hilarious expression on the dog’s face as he waits for his buddy to finish his food.

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This tornado happened at Waynoka, Oklahoma City, in 1898. The first known storm chaser, David Hoadley, was born 40 years later. He launched the magazine, Storm Track. The men who took this picture were like Hoadley. They, too, took a death-defying photo of a massive tornado that was obviously coming their way back then—and were alive to show it.

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The photo features the star-nosed mole. This mole has 22 pink appendages attached to its equally pink nose. The mole uses these parts to capture touch, odors, vibrations, and temperature fluctuations. Termed as Elmer’s organs, these rodent’s unique body parts enable it to survive and thrive in the wet, marshy regions of lowland North America.

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This photo looks like a famous painting that similarly features the sky. Mammatus clouds look like udders; thus, they are called mammary clouds, as well. Such clouds form when cold air goes down as it meets warmer air, forming these pouches in the sky. These clouds are dangerous, especially for airplanes, as they create downdrafts.

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This touching photo shows a seagull attempting to help another seagull who gets unluckily picked up by a bald eagle. Bald eagles symbolize the nation’s exquisite quality, although they are also known to be apex predators in the wild. They hunt small or medium animals, including birds. Unfortunately, seagulls are often included in their menu.