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PHOTOS OF ANIMAL SAVAGERY THAT PROVE MOTHER NATURE IS TRULY WILD By Claire Miles - May 15, 2023 Nature documentaries often show us the captivating creatures and beautiful beings that we share the planet with. However, there’s a much more beastly side to the Animal Kingdom that usually gets left on the cutting room floor. These photos capture the gory, graphic, and sometimes disgusting side of nature that we rarely see. From deadly animal encounters to unpleasant ways that some creatures survive, we’re here to prove that the circle of life is truly wild. “Mother swan killed a fox to protect her nest” Imgur We are often warned about the overprotective mother bear but no one is singing the song of the fierce mother swan. When a fox crept into this swan mom’s nest, threatening the lives of the eggs she was incubating, she did what she had to do to keep her babies safe. For such a beautiful bird, when the swan picks a fight, things get ugly. “A spider was stung by the bee it trapped in its web. Both died instantly.” Imgur If this isn’t the definition of instant karma, we don’t know what is. Spiders spin sticky webs to catch their insect prey, but every so often they catch a bee instead of a fly. This bee was bound by the web but it still had one last defense. It fatally stung the spider before it was eaten, and you can still see the stinger stuck in the spider’s abdomen. “These three deer locked antlers in a fight and drowned themselves in a waist-deep pool” Imgur Tom Holland Announces He's Taking a Break From Acting Keep Watching When three bucks fighting over the same doe accidentally locked antlers, their love triangle quickly became a lose-lose-lose situation. They fell into a shallow pool of water where they were unable to untangle themselves and get back up. Unfortunately, this would-be love story quickly turned into a tragic tale. ADVERTISING “The European Honey Buzzard is really after the wasp eggs and larvae” Imgur Although it might appear that this picture is just a hawk with a serious sweet tooth, the true backstory is much more bitter. The honeycomb is probably tasty but this bird of prey is really after the sugar-coated insect eggs and larvae. Unfortunately for the bees and wasps, their feathers form both a chemical and physical barrier that protects them from being bitten or stung. “Stumbled across these coyote remains on the beach by our family cottage” Imgur We’re not sure what’s more frightening–coming face to face with a live coyote while on a hike or running into this. Although the decomposing canine creature doesn’t put anyone in immediate danger, the initial shock is sure to leave a painful and recurring trauma for years to come. ADVERTISING “Ravens and crows will go for their victim’s eyes first” Imgur As if we needed another reason to think of crows and ravens as spooky and ominous, apparently they are among a group of birds known for plucking out their enemies’ eyes. Not are the eyes a soft, tasty morsel of food, but it gives them easy access to an even more nutritious meal–the brain. ADVERTISING “This deer was found walking around on its bare bones with no hooves and a hunter put him out of his misery” Imgur It’s unclear how this deer lost its feet in the first place, or how long it struggled walking on bare bones, but when a hunter spotted it while in the woods, it was clear that the poor deer was struggling. The sharpshooting samaritan knew that it wouldn’t last long in the wild and helped the deer cross over to the other side. ADVERTISING “Otters have razor-sharp teeth that can break bones” Imgur In case you were thinking of getting between an otter and their sushi dinner…don’t. Like humans, otters have sharp, pointed canine teeth that can rip and tear as well as back molars to crunch and crush. However, studies have found that otter teeth are 2.5 times stronger than human teeth. “Three cheetahs had this impala surrounded” Imgur We all have to learn not to trust a cheetah at some point. Unfortunately for this impala, it learned the hard way. Surrounded by three cheetahs, it really didn’t stand a chance. All it could do was stare at the photographer with eyes that seem to say, “What? You’re not going to help me?” ADVERTISING When pelicans are hot, they push their spine out of their mouths to cool down” Imgur Summers get so hot these days that we would do just about anything to cool ourselves off…except this. When a pelican’s internal body temperature gets too high, they have a unique ability to essentially flip inside out, eject its spine from its body, and cool itself off naturally. It probably works like a charm but, even if we had the ability to do this, we’d rather just sweat it out. ADVERTISING “One bear versus two wolves” Imgur On the one hand, bears have incredible strength, piercing claws, and are ferocious fighters. On the other hand, wolves are quick on their paws and have a dangerously sharp bite, not to mention that there are two of them. There’s no saying which team has the advantage in this fight but, when it comes to violence, there are never true winners. “This python was so hungry she could eat an alligator” Imgur Snakes are famous for their ability to unhinge their jaws and swallow prey whole. However, we’re not sure if this python that practically inhaled an alligator has an unprecedented and astonishing natural talent or some sort of disorder that it might need to seek treatment for. Either way, the snake was the clear winner of this scaly skirmish. Reindeer eat the bloody skin that sheds from their antlers Imgur Moose, reindeer, and elks are among a group of animals that grow a new set of antlers annually. While the antlers are developing, they’re protected by a layer of veiny skin called a “velvet.” Eventually, when the antlers are fully formed, they shed the velvet and eat it. Although it may disgust some people, it could be mother nature’s way of reminding us, “waste not, want not.” “The coast of Chile experienced the biggest whale strandings ever recorded” Imgur 337 Sei whales, an endangered species, were found dead along the shore in a rural area of Chile. After scientists conducted studies of the strange phenomenon, they concluded that a bloom of toxic algae was the most likely cause of their death. Events like these are known as “red tides.” They aren’t uncommon but they wreak havoc on marine ecosystems when they occur. “The hummingbird impaled a bee with its beak” Imgur When these two winged creatures went whizzing through the air, they had no idea that they were on a collision course for disaster. At least that’s what we’d like to assume. Either this was a perfectly-timed fluke accident or hummingbirds are far more sinister and dangerous than we have ever given them credit for. “This shark was barking up the wrong tree” Imgur Unfortunately for this shark, the canine’s bite was worse than his bite. An Australian doggo was spotted chowing down on a fishy feast that was freshly washed ashore. Even though we call shark babies “pups,” grown dogs feel no camaraderie and won’t hesitate to gobble them up on sight. ADVERTISING “Poor cow was unable to mooooove” Imgur Cows aren’t known for their climbing abilities and this unsettling image shows precisely why. Somehow, this cow got its hooves stuck in a tree in a field in Queensland. In the harsh heat, the cow couldn’t last there very long. It dried up in the summer sun and was still hanging from the tree before anyone found it. ADVERTISING “A tiny frog delivered this full-sized bird the kiss of death” Imgur This bird’s body was found floating on the surface of a pond but, if you look closely, you can see the killer is still at the scene of the crime. While frogs are much more well-known for snapping up insects with their tongues, they are also very skilled at camouflaging themselves and hunting far larger prey. ADVERTISING “Olive python helping a kangaroo escape the Karijini gorge in Western Australia” Imgur Olive Pythons blend into their environment so well that if they were slithering in the same direction as the rows of rock, we would never spot them. Unfortunately, that’s likely what happened to this kangaroo. We guess that it either slipped and fell into the gorge or it was stopped for a drink when it was snatched by the boa. “This deer got caught in a tree during a forest fire” Imgur Oh, deer! With rising temperatures across the globe, wildfires are becoming far too common. Humans and animals alike have to evacuate their environments lickety-split. Unfortunately for this deer, it was so rushed to get out of the forest that it accidentally got caught in the branches of an oak and was roasted when the flames rolled in. “We found a decaying sea lion on the beach” Imgur A relaxing day at the beach took a turn for the spooky when beachgoers stumbled across this unsightly scene. Along the shore was a decaying creature that looked like it could be some sort of sea monster, mermaid, or siren. After some internet sleuthing, they discovered that it was only a sea lion whose time had finally come. “The lion sleeps tonight…with a belly full of giraffe” Imgur Whether the lion is the king of the jungle, forest, or savannah, he is certainly a merciless ruler. Giraffes might be massive creatures that can reach great heights but the lion knows that the bigger they are, the harder they fall. This giraffe happened to fall hard, right into the jaws of the world’s most ferocious feline. ADVERTISING “Snakes are surprisingly skilled fishermen” Imgur Whether they’re sea snakes or land snakes, serpents are equipped with remarkable adaptations for catching fish. They slither stealthily through aquatic environments, patiently waiting for an unsuspecting fish to swim near. Then, with an explosive burst of speed and lightning-quick strikes, they ensnare their slippery prey and swallow them whole. ADVERTISING “Gecko on gecko on gecko violence” Imgur In the Animal Kingdom, you never know when you’re going to be a predator and when you’re going to be someone else’s prey. For the gecko in the middle of this chain of lizards, it was both predator and prey at the same time. Though geckos prefer to feed on insects and other small invertebrates, they may resort to this behavior when resources are scarce or during territorial disputes. ADVERTISING “Praying Mantis Eating A Hummingbird” Imgur Our thoughts and prayers go out to this hummingbird who got snatched by a stealthy praying mantis. The insect wasn’t able to eat the nectar stored inside the bird feeder. However, he found that if he waited there long enough, a filling meal would fly right into his arms, rather than having to hunt for it. “These bees are committing mutiny on their queen” TikTok When honeybees want to oust an old queen bee, they partake in a grim form of mutiny. The worker bees surround the queen in what’s known as a “queen ball.” They vibrate simultaneously, heating her up until she can no longer move, and seat a young new queen in the hive’s sweet and sticky throne. “A horse underwater became this shark’s sea biscuit” Imgur Underwater cameras captured a rarely-seen image of a horse being devoured by a shark. These two creatures don’t usually ever interact but a strange twist of fate brought the shark a Surf and Turf meal. Whether the horse voluntarily went for a swim, was accidentally swept out to sea, or dumped into the ocean, this is a meal that this shark isn’t likely to have again for a long while. ADVERTISING “This jaguar wants to make sure you know he’s not sharing his food” Imgur As if climbing high up in a tree didn’t show that this jaguar didn’t want any pesky parasites disturbing his meal, the expression on his face certainly gets the point across. Not to mention, jaguars aren’t as adept at climbing trees as their feline cousins, the cheetah. That goes to show that he truly wanted some peace and quiet. ADVERTISING “A woolly mammoth’s tusk is unearthed from a Siberian riverbed” Imgur An image like this puts into perspective just how massive these prehistoric creatures were. A tusk is essentially just a tooth used for digging or defense, so there was a LOT more mammoth connected to it at one point. Scientists estimate that these beasts stood about 13 feet high and weighed over 17,000 pounds. “Polar bears had a bone to pick with this whale” Imgur There’s not much vegetation up in the Arctic, meaning that most of the animals there survive on a diet mostly of other animals. Though polar bears mostly rely on hunting seals for their meals, they will occasionally feast on a scavenged whale carcass. When they do find such a delicacy, the scene can be quite grizzly. “Harpy eagles have sharp talons as large as a grizzly bear’s claws” Imgur Though the US-of-A chose the brave and majestic bald eagle as its national symbol, the Central and South American harpy eagle makes it look like a silly goose. Harpy eagles have a wingspan of nearly 7 feet, making them among the largest raptors in the world. They also are impressive hunters and often feast on sloths, other birds, and even monkeys. ADVERTISING “Giraffes wish cheetahs would pick on animals their own size” Imgur As ferocious and aggressive as cheetahs can be, they are also sleek and graceful. In this captivating photo, we side that side of them–slender and calculated–on display. The photographer perfectly captures how the stark size contrast between the cheetah and giraffe adds drama to the scene and showcases the challenges inherent in the cheetah’s pursuit of survival amidst a world of giants “The mouse is tired of this bull…frog” Imgur The African bullfrog, native to sub-Saharan Africa, is known for its voracious appetite and unique feeding habits. While primarily insectivorous (bug-eaters) their diet also includes small vertebrates like rodents. This intriguing encounter captured in the photo highlights the bullfrog’s opportunistic nature and showcases the diverse interactions found within the intricate web of African ecosystems. “Crikey! A croc was spotted catching a wave in Australia” Imgur Saltwater crocodiles are mostly known to live in rivers, lakes, and swamps but they are well-adapted to take on any aquatic terrain. They are skilled enough swimmers to venture into the open ocean from time to time. This beachgoer down under happened to be on the shore at such a time and captured this photo of a croc casually surfing the waves. “When he saw the bald eagle, he knew he was totally ducked” Imgur Few birds of prey have the predatory prowess of the bald eagle. Not only can they hunt for themselves but they also take advantage of the hunting efforts of other animals and steal their catches. This behavior is known as “kleptoparasitism” and allows them to secure a meal without expending so much energy. The bald eagle has strength, brains, and beauty–the total package. “A coyote stuck in the power lines with a rabbit in its mouth” Imgur It’s safe to assume how the rabbit got caught in the coyote’s mouth…but how in the world did the coyote get caught in the power line? Some guess that it was lifted up and then dropped by a bird of prey, such as a golden eagle. However, it’s highly unlikely that even the strongest raptors would have the strength to lift a coyote off the ground, let alone 30 feet in the air. ADVERTISING “This stag can’t get his rival off of his mind” Imgur When male deer fight over ladies during mating season, they ram each other with their impressive antlers. The sharp and twisted nature of these bones means that they can sometimes get interlocked. This deer was unable to detach himself from his enemy’s antlers but he was somehow able to detach their rival’s head from the rest of his body. ADVERTISING “Alligators don’t mind a meal with a bit of a crunch” Imgur Alligators are surprisingly fast and turtles are notoriously slow. With a combination like that, a turtle’s only defense against these predators is its hard outer shell. Unfortunately for the turtles, the formidable jaws of alligators possess immense strength and are fully capable of crushing through the tough shells of turtles. “Heavy rainfalls lead to ‘snowing spiders'” Imgur / Wikimedia Commons The only thing that could make the phenomenon of “snowing spiders” any worse is if spiders actually rained down from the sky. Instead, heavy rainfalls lead to a boom in the mosquito population which can lead to a domino effect for the spider population. The spiders then spread out throughout an area and blanket them in dense webs that give the appearance of a heavy snowfall. “You have such unique antlers, deer” Imgur Just as with the appearance of humans, animals can also have diversity and variation in how they present their natural features. Genetic factors, nutrition, and injury are all factors that can contribute to unusual antler formations in deer. They can result in asymmetrical antlers, irregular branching patterns, or altogether strange shapes that don’t even resemble antlers as we know them. “Sea lions love snacking on calamari” Imgur The octopus may have eight tentacles with incredible suction power but this sea lion is slurping it right up. Even though sea lions have dozens of sharp teeth, they only use them for grabbing and tearing at their prey. Otherwise, they are known for swallowing their food whole. No amount of ink squirted is going to get the octopus out of this dilemma. “Some birds prefer to charter their flights” Imgur They say that teamwork makes the dream work, and that’s exactly what’s happening in this incredible photo of interspecies cooperation. After likely being involved in a mid-air confrontation, the little blackbird flipped the script by hopping onto the back of this red-tailed hawk. He better savor both the free flight because this moment of being ahead in the pecking order might not last long. “It’s a gator-eat-gator world out there, folks!” Imgur This striking photo depicts one of the harshest realities of nature–an act of cannibalism. Alligators only consume members of their own species in rare circumstances. When it does occur, it is typically younger alligators that fall victim to larger, more dominant adults in disputes over territory and hierarchy in the alligator population. ADVERTISING “Got sent this picture of my cousin at the beach…” Imgur While encountering such a sight is sure to be impactful, if not mystifying, it’s important to keep a distance from any animal you encounter washed ashore. Not only can dead turtles carry diseases or parasites that could be harmful to humans but they play a vital role in marine ecosystems. Leaving their bodies undisturbed allows for natural processes, such as scavenging, decomposition, and nutrient recycling, to occur. “Brave warthog tries to fight off an attacking lion” Imgur This courageous warthog is standing his ground, fighting back against a threatening lion, and asserting that pork is not on the menu today. From their canine teeth, warthogs grow a sharp set of upper and lower tusks that they use to dig and defend themselves against enemies. His chances may be slim, but the warthog’s strong tusks and fearless spirit are the only things giving him a shot at survival. “A centipede eating a tri-colored bat” Imgur New fear unlocked! If you didn’t know before that insects are capable of eating mammals as large as bats, now you know. While wandering through the Cascade Caverns of Boerne, Texas, one cave explorer snapped this impressive pic. It’s likely that the bat was deep in sleep when the centipede snatched him and it was lights out for the bat. ADVERTISING “This squirrel is about to climb this pole right up to heaven” Imgur Just because they’re in a city doesn’t mean the rules of nature don’t apply. Whether climbing up a tree or a telephone line, squirrels need to be aware of the predators all around them. Unfortunately for the squirrel, he probably couldn’t have seen from the ground that there was a hawk waiting for him at the top of the pole. “Spotted a hyena carrying an elephant’s foot” Imgur We’re guessing that the hyena didn’t take down an elephant all by his lonesome but he was happy to pick up the bits that others left behind. Hyenas possess immensely powerful jaws and bone-crushing teeth, enabling them to access nutrient-rich marrow within large bones like the elephant’s foot. Other beasts didn’t think the feet were food but the hyena got the last laugh. ADVERTISING “Vultures are happy to pick at the leftovers” Imgur Vultures, the scavengers of the animal kingdom, never let anything go to waste. They’ve adapted to have strong stomach acids that can neutralize harmful bacteria. By clearing carcasses from the environment, vultures prevent the spread of diseases and help maintain an ecological balance in their surroundings. “An owl killed 70+ lemmings and made a nest from their carcasses” Imgur Owls will typically build their nests out of leaves, twigs, moss, and feathers but this particular bird was intent on living a life of luxury. The owl hunted down over seventy lemmings–small rodents found near the Arctic–and, rather than eating them, used them as building material. It built an extremely soft and entirely fur-lined nest to cozy up inside. “Moments before learning not to mess with porcupines” Imgur Leopards are fearsome predators but that doesn’t mean that any weaker animal is fair game. African porcupines are covered in sharp quills that stand tall when they feel threatened. These create a spiky barrier that can cause severe pain and injury to any animal that dares to come near and their tails can lash out painful, pokey strikes. “Hippos are actually quite ferocious creatures” Imgur Despite how this young calf panicking over the swarm of blackbirds might look, people often underestimate how powerful and ferocious hippos are. Although they seem docile, they are highly territorial and aggressive. When they feel threatened, they are not afraid to win a fight using their powerful jaws, teeth, and tusks. “Widows win the battle of the venom” Imgur Black widow spiders may be small but their bite is infamously mighty. Even though some snakes are equipped with their own venom, they might not stand a chance against the widow’s potent neurotoxin. On occasion, black widow bites are even deadly for humans. Snakes are far smaller, meaning that one bite packs a more powerful punch. “This cheetah has one good eye and one awesome eye” Imgur For cheetahs, speed is important, but so is their eyesight. Animals in the wild often survive despite having extreme injuries. An injury to one eye is sure to throw off this cheetah’s depth perception, an essential skill when hunting for prey. Still, being blind in one eye isn’t a death sentence for such a creature, and the cheetah probably survives just fine. “A snake slithered his way around a heron’s beak” Imgur Although snakes and herons are usually competitors hunting within the same food supply, it’s not out of the realm of possibility for a sea snake to strike a heron. If this snake isn’t fixing to take this blue heron for his next meal, he’s at least communicating that he needs to shut his beak until the snake is finished eating. “Lampreys are ancient, blood-sucking creatures” Imgur These peculiar species can be found in both freshwater and saltwater ecosystem throughout the world. At the head of their eel-like bodies is a suction-cup mouth lined with rows upon rows of sharp teeth. Lampreys are renowned for their unique life cycle, alternating between parasitic feeding and spawning journeys that have kept them around for over 360 million years. “Swedish citizens spotted a stunning all-white reindeer” Imgur Though incredibly rare, a genetic variation called leucism can be found in reindeer populations in Sweden. This condition led the reindeer to lose all the pigment in his fur and become stark white in color. While leucism makes for a miraculous natural camouflage in the winter, it certainly makes him stand out once the snow melts. “Kangaroos are secretly so very buff” Imgur Despite how this guy seems to have unmatched upper body strength, these marsupials are known for their incredibly muscular hind legs and tails. These muscles allow them to hop at speeds up to 35 miles per hour, but they also come in handy when they get in fights with other animals. These beasts are impressive boxers who throw powerful punches and can kick you several feet into the air. “Zebras crossing rivers have to outrun crocs” Imgur Crocodiles are fierce creatures of the world’s rivers most famous for their powerful jaws. However, they are also known to be quite fast, reaching speeds up to 22 miles per hour. Apparently, that’s fast enough to catch a galloping zebra. When he snatched his lunch from the riverbank, those strong jaws came in hand–he was able to chomp this whole zebra down, bones and all. “Caribou turned into a cari-brrr and froze in its tracks” Imgur Winters are rough in the arctic circle and, even though creatures like the caribou have adapted to handle the weather, it sometimes gets too cold by anyone’s measure. This antlered animal succumbed to the extremely low temperatures and froze where it was standing–but the circle of life keeps spinning. Some other predators had this caribou for dinner…and maybe had some moose for dessert. ABOUT US DMCA POLICY PRIVACY POLICY TERMS OF SERVICE DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION © 2023 Theydiffer. All Rights Reserved.