Eerie animals? Not so fast

Spooky spiders?

With their eight legs, prominent fangs, and often multiple sets of eyes, spiders can seem a little… spooky, which is why they often get a bad rap. But contrary to the narrative of some horror flicks, these web spinners are a huge plus to have around. Found all around the world except in the coldest places, spiders serve as major predators of insects—including those that pester humans, transmit disease, or eat food crops. We know of more than 40,000 different species of spider, and likely still have thousands more to discover.

Bone-chilling bats?

Vampire bats may send a shiver down your spine, but out of about 1,500 species of bats in the world, only three carry that label. The majority—two-thirds—serve as nighttime pest patrol, snacking on mosquitoes and other insects. Other bat species act as pollinators and seed dispersers. By feeding on flowers and fruits, bats pollinate wild bananas, the saguaro cactus, and durian.

Creepy cats?

A black cat crossing your path on Halloween seems like a bad omen. However, catching a glimpse of a much bigger black cat—the elusive black jaguar—would be quite the stroke of luck. They’re the same species of jaguar found in the Amazon, but with a rare color variant. This color adaptation may aid these apex predators in catching prey, which helps keep other species' populations and their forest ecosystems in balance. WWF helps protect the Amazon and tracks jaguars to learn more about their habitat and needs.

Ominous owls?

Just because most owls fly through the night doesn't mean they’re ominous. In fact, the snowy owl hunts mainly during the day, using both sight and sound to locate prey. This white-feathered bird is usually monogamous, but unlike many other owl species, snowy owls often don’t pair for longer than a breeding season. Snowy owls live mainly in Arctic regions, but are known to fly south into the United States during the winter months. They help control mammal populations and serve as an indicator for ecosystem health.

Learn more about WWF's work to protect wildlife.