Everywhere you look there are plants and animals just begging to be touched. Some of these are cute things like kittens and puppies, while others are not as inviting like mushrooms. You always need to be aware of your surroundings, when you get the urge to touch an animal or a plant. Sometimes the color of a plant will indicate that it’s poisonous. For animals, their body language might tell you whether or not it’s okay to pet them. No matter what, you should always be careful when it comes to handling a plant or animal that is new to you.
Knowing what you can and can’t touch isn’t easy. You would need to memorize an entire encyclopedia of facts to know it all. That’s why we have done a lot of research to determine what plants and animals you should definitely keep your hands off. When in doubt, don’t touch! You don’t want to touch a poisonous plant and have a terrible reaction that puts you in the hospital. Keep scrolling to see some of the common plants and animals that are a major no-no when it comes to touching. This knowledge might keep you safe in the future, and help you to avoid some nasty encounters.
The Rosary Pea
Within the natural world, any plant or berry that is red is basically a warning. It’s nature’s way of saying, “Do Not Eat.” The Rosary Pea, is a beautiful plant that resembles the rosaries used by Catholicism practitioners. Each red pea is incredibly poisonous, and contains a substance called abrin.
Abrin is extremely poisonous, and simply eating one pea can kill a human. This plant is most commonly found in Indonesia and parts of India. For the intrepid traveler that likes to go tramping through the rainforest, make sure you don’t munch on one of these little guys. It could mean the end of your trip, and your life.
Rhubarb
This might seem like an odd addition to this list, as rhubarb is the main ingredient in a number of desserts. Strawberry rhubarb pie and muffins are quite delicious. The stems of rhubarb are not the poisonous part.
The leaves found on a rhubarb plant are the part that is poisonous, which means preparing rhubarb to cook with is a risky business. We suggest always wearing gloves when picking rhubarb.
Indian Red Scorpion
Scorpions are notorious for delivering a pretty painful sting. The smaller a scorpion is, the more poisonous the sting will be. The Indian Red Scorpion has a bright red stinger on the end of its tail, which lets the world know that it is poisonous.
While it’s a pretty neat creature to look at, you really don’t want to get too close to one of these. One sting will be painful, but multiple stings could be deadly. If you get stung by this scorpion, get to the hospital as soon as possible.
The Blue-Ringed Octopus
There is a whole world under the sea, that we rarely get to investigate. Living amongst the coral and other sea creatures is the beautiful blue-ringed octopus. The bright blue dots on its body lets the underwater kingdom know that they don’t want to eat it.
That’s due to the poison that is kept inside its body. This type of coloring is called aposematic coloration and it’s an adaptation to let predators know not to mess with it.
The Octopus Stinkhorn
At first glance, this appears to be yet another poisonous octopus but it’s actually a plant. The Latin name for the Octopus Stinkhorn is Clathrus archeri which sounds a lot nicer. The naturally red hue of this plant tells us once more that it is poisonous.
The plant itself does not release any poisonous spores into the air, but as soon as a human or an animal touches it the spores are released. It also smells like rotting meat, which is pretty gross.
The Amanita Mushroom
Mushrooms are part of the fungi family, and certain ones like chanterelles are delicious when incorporated into cooking. However, if you’re going to head into the woods to pick mushrooms, you should arm yourself with a mushroom guidebook.
The Amanita mushroom, with its red cap is not one you want to pick. In terms of deadliness, the Amanita will only harm a human if it is ingested. The amatoxin within the mushroom will affect the liver and the kidney.
Poison Ivy
All hikers in North America know to beware of poison ivy. It grows in most forests, and it’s very easy to walk through, or stumble upon. Poison ivy isn’t deadly unless you have an allergic reaction to it. However, it does cause a raised welt like rash, and some very intense itching.
The toxin that causes this is urushiol. A doctor can provide a rash relieving cream, but usually you just need to wait out the reaction.
The Puss Moth
A lot of plants and animals found in nature are incredibly beautiful to look at. The Puss Moth is one of these. It has a fluffy exterior that makes it look like it would be very cuddly to touch. This is all a ruse though.
As soon as you touch that ‘fur’ you will feel its spikes and release a bunch of poison. The poison will spread through your body, and may cause symptoms like nausea and breathing troubles. If you come across one of these, just look and don’t touch.
Hogweed
Plants that are poisonous tend to broadcast it through their vibrant colors, but the hogweed does not. It’s white flowers, and tall stems make it look like a plant you could cut down and take home.
Contained within the hogweed’s sap is a rather nasty poison that causes blisters, and blindness if it gets in your eyes. Sometimes it’s better to just avoid pretty plants. This is one of those plants you can gaze at from afar.
The Kissing Bug
By now, we know that the color red equals danger. Don’t be fooled by the kissing bug’s cute little name. This bug packs all sorts of not so delightful surprises. A bite from the kissing bug can cause a disease known as Chagas, from the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi.
However, it’s not the bite that causes the disease, but from the excrement the bug produces around the bite area. Always sleep with a mosquito net if you’re in an area where these bugs are present.
The Death Cap
Mushrooms are full of all sorts of nutritious goodness and poisonous spores depending on the ones you come across. The Death Cap bears a striking resemblance to the non-toxic mushroom known as the Paddy Straw.
If you’re unsure of whether the mushroom you have is a Death Cap or a Paddy Straw, just put it back where you found it. It’s always better to be cautious, then to eat a mushroom you’re unsure of.
Elder
The Elder plant is very unique because parts of it are edible, while other parts of it can cause some very serious reactions. The elderberries are used to flavor drinks and certain medications, but anything besides the berries needs to be avoided.
Contained within the rest of the plant is cyanide, a toxic substance that can eventually poison human beings if ingested. Some of the symptoms include vomiting and eventually a coma. Only drink elderberry drinks from reputable stores.
Water Hemlock
If you’ve read any novels that discuss medieval poisons, you will have read about hemlock. In fact, hemlock is one of the most ancient poisons found in the world. When the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates was sentenced to death, he was administered a dose of hemlock.
Sometimes animals will eat hemlock seeds, and people will end up eating the animals. There is enough leftover position in the animal’s body, to re-poison a human. Beware of the hemlock!
The Bullet Ant
The prickly bullet ant doesn’t look very friendly, and you definitely don’t want to try and touch one of these. They possess the ability to sting, which is very painful but on top of that they are able to call their fellow ants if threatened.
As soon as one ant stings, the rest of the anthill will come swarming to help them. Nobody wants to be covered in a swarm of ants, and stung by hundreds of them. That sounds like a very bad time.
The White Snakeroot
The white snakeroot is quite beautiful, with its fluffy white blooms. However, like everything on this list it is full of poison. Primarily found in North America, livestock like cows will sometimes munch on a few blooms of it.
Most of the time it kills them, but if they survive their milk supply will be poisonous for a while. Farmers have to segregate these cows, and test the milk to make sure it is safe for consumption.
Angel’s Trumpet
By now we are used to seeing bright red plants that hide their poisonous insides. On the outside, the Angel’s Trumpet looks like it belongs in a Disney movie. Little fairies would love to live in these hanging yellow flowers
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It’s the leaves of this plant that are chock full of a special poison. When touched, the leaves will cause humans to hallucinate and feel intense nausea for a while. Stay away from this flower found in South America.
The Porcupine Tomato
Tomatoes are a fruit that humans eat on a pretty common basis. However, the porcupine tomato is not your average tomato plant. Each leaf is studded with a sharp quill, similar to the ones found on porcupines.
If an animal tries to eat one of the tomatoes, it will find itself with a face full of quills. The plant isn’t poisonous, but being stabbed by quills isn’t exactly a pleasant experience. Just stick to regular tomato plants and you’ll be okay.
The Devil’s Club
Any plant with the name “Devil” in it is likely not going to be a very friendly one. The Devil’s Club was given its name because of its effect on anyone who decides to touch it. As you’ve probably guessed, one touch of this plant will put you into a world of pain.
The plant has spines all over it, and these deliver a toxin which creates a stinging sensation. The stinging can feel like electric shocks, and is best avoided under all circumstances.
The Japanese Giant Hornet
Bees, wasps, and hornets all deliver a very painful sting when provoked. The Japanese Giant Hornet is in a class of its own though. Not only is it huge in comparison to a regular hornets, but it’s stinger contains a very potent poison.
Hornets, unlike bees, can sting more than once so be mindful of this if you see a 2-inch long hornet buzzing around. A sting from one of these can kill a person.
Castor Beans
Castor beans are used for all sorts of different things, like oil and different medicines. However, the quantity of castor beans a person can consume is very small. They contain a specific type of poison known as ricin, which is incredibly lethal.
The poison attacks the whole body, and all it takes are few grains the size of salt. This type of poison is often dramatized in television shows like Homeland. If someone offers you some castor beans, just say no!
The Brazilian Wandering Spider
Most large spiders are not poisonous, it is the little ones like the Black Widow that you need to worry about. The Brazilian Wandering Spider is an exception to this rule. Don’t let the large body fool you.
A bite from a Brazilian Wandering Spider can quickly cause your organs to shut down. The amount of toxin injected into the body does depend on the length of time the spider bites you. If you see one on you, quickly shake it off.
The Spurge
Not all of the plants and animals on this list are deadly, but they do cause some pretty nasty reactions. The Spurge is unlikely to kill anyone, but the toxins found in the sap will do some damage.
When the sap comes into contact with skin, it will absorb into it and cause a reaction. Reactions range from a simple rash to full-on blistering.
The Poison Dart Frog
This aptly named frog is incredibly beautiful to look at but something to be very wary of. Found in the rainforests of Central America, this little yellow and black frog has a very unique adaptation.
It’s entire body is coated in poison. Should you come into contact with one of these little guys, be prepared for some rather nasty neurological issues due to the poison.
Wolfsbane
Flowering plants are very deceiving. If you walk by wolfsbane, you’d think you could pick a few stems and put it in a vase in your living room. Of course, you need to think again if you’re reading this list.
Wolfsbane doesn’t have to be ingested to cause problems, it can simply be touched. The poison doesn’t cause a rash, instead it causes complete organ failure.
Oleander
Many large flowering plants and bushes are secretly hiding some very poisonous toxins. Oleander, and it’s purple flowers is a plant commonly found in ornamental gardens. It’s easy to care for and as long as you don’t eat it, you will be fine.
If you do accidentally eat a bloom or a couple of leaves, get yourself to the hospital. It will need to be purged from your system, or you could go into cardiac arrest.
Noseburn
Sometimes it is all in a name, and this plant’s name – noseburn – tells you pretty much everything you need to know. The noseburn plant is covered in tiny little hair-like filaments that embed themselves in your skin if you are unlucky enough to touch it. These filaments create a burning sensation that starts at the source, and then spreads throughout your limbs.
The good news is that the burning will stop after a few hours, but the bad news is that you will be very uncomfortable until then. A rash may also accompany the pain. If you’re worried about the reaction, pay a visit to your doctor.
Tsetse Fly
First off, not all tsetse flies are bad. However, this fly found in Southern Africa is a carrier for a pretty horrible illness called the sleeping sickness. All it takes is one bite from an infected tsetse fly, and you may begin to experience some of the symptoms – the main one being fatigue.
If you’re worried that you have been bitten by one of these, head to a hospital with lab facilities for some proper testing. It’s treatable if caught early enough.
The Box Jellyfish
In general, you want to steer clear of all jellyfish. These little guys, with their long waving tentacles tend to deliver a sting if you get tangled up with them. Some jellyfish are more dangerous than others though, and can deliver a sting which can kill you. The box jellyfish is found around Indonesia, and off the shore of Australia.
While its sting won’t kill you right away, it will paralyze you. This paralysis, especially when combined with being in the ocean can lead to drowning. If you see a jellyfish, and don’t know what kind it is, steer clear of it.
Gympie-Gympie
At first glance, the Gympie-Gympie appears to be a rainforest plant with giant green leaves. If you know anything about the Gympie-Gympie though, you know this is not a plant to be trifled with. Found in the rainforests of Australia, this nettle-like plant delivers a sting that is supposed to be one of the most painful on the planet.
The stinging becomes unbearable, and has been known to drive certain people insane. As the stories go, people who have been stung have become consumed with pain, and ended up walking right off of cliffs to make it stop. The good news is that this plant is only found on the Northeast side of Australia.
The African Bee
The bees found on the continent of Africa are very different from the ones we are used to in North America. They are much larger than North American bees, and incredibly aggressive in comparison.
If you get too close to a hive, they will swarm and sting you. A single sting most people can survive, but multiple stings will call for a hospital visit and even an EpiPen shot.
