Wildlife Promise » Photo of the Week http://blog.nwf.org The National Wildlife Federation's blog Sat, 25 May 2013 16:04:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Spooky Animals: Photo Gallery http://blog.nwf.org/2010/10/spooky-animals-photo-gallery/ http://blog.nwf.org/2010/10/spooky-animals-photo-gallery/#comments Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:30:03 +0000 Hannah Schardt http://blog.nwf.org/wildlifepromise/?p=7366 Read more >]]> As I reassure my 3-year-old son every time we see a spider (or a picture of a wolf, a shark, a snake or, oddly, a raccoon), there is no such thing as a “bad” or “mean” animal.

Of course, that doesn’t mean some people don’t find certain animals spooky, icky or just plain scary.

In honor of Halloween, here’s a gallery of “spooky” animals, all photographed by members of National Wildlife Magazine’s PhotoZone Facebook group.

raven by Efren Adalem

Edgar Allen Poe's "grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore" is actually one of the smartest birds around, using tools to collect hard-to-reach food and, in lab experiments, appearing to use logic to solve complex problems. This raven was photographed by Efren Adalem.

cottonmouth snake by Ron Broome

If this doesn't give you at least a little chill, then you can be sure you don't suffer from ophidiophodia - the fear of snakes. This cottonmouth was photographed by Ron Broome.

common orb weaver by Alison Sheehey

If you're scared of spiders, imagine how this poor fiery skipper feels. Alison Sheehey photographed this common orb weaver making a meal of a skipper.

raccoon by Shannon Gresham

Okay, so most people aren't scared of raccoons (my son is evidently the exception). But with their glowing eyes and nocturnal habits, they seem an appropriate subject for Halloween. Happy Halloween from Ranger Rick!

For more on spooky birds and nature’s vampires, check out National Wildlife Magazine online!

]]> http://blog.nwf.org/2010/10/spooky-animals-photo-gallery/feed/ 5 Backyard Wildlife Photo of the Week: Praying Mantis http://blog.nwf.org/2010/10/backyard-wildlife-photo-of-the-week-praying-mantis/ http://blog.nwf.org/2010/10/backyard-wildlife-photo-of-the-week-praying-mantis/#comments Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:29:52 +0000 Hannah Schardt http://blog.nwf.org/wildlifepromise/?p=6519 Read more >]]> Praying mantis, photographed in Groton, Connecticut, by Kevin Skrzynski

Ready for its close-up, this praying mantis looms large over a group of blissfully unaware humans in the background. 17-year-old Kevin Skrzynski noticed the insect while on vacation in Connecticut. The mantis sat on Skrzynski's shoulder for several minutes, allowing the photographer to get face-to-face. And what a face!

Each week, National Wildlife editors select one image of North American wildlife to share on the blog. To see more wildlife photos and to share your own, visit the PhotoZone Facebook page.

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