In the yard, I found a slimy, reddish creature giving off a terrible smell — and I froze in horror when I realized what it was.

This morning, I stepped into the yard—just to water the flowers and check if the cats had made their usual mess. But the moment I opened the gate, a horrible smell hit me. It was so strong it made my chest tighten and left a metallic taste in my mouth.

I took a few cautious steps and froze. Something was moving near the flowerbed. 🫣

On the ground lay a slimy, reddish thing, like something turned inside out. The stench was unbearable—like rotting meat. My heart started pounding as all sorts of awful thoughts ran through my mind.

“What is this? A larva? Some kind of mutant? An alien?” I couldn’t tell. 😲

I grabbed my phone, snapped a photo, and, holding my breath, searched online for “red slimy mushroom that smells like rot.”

And what I found made my skin crawl. 😨😱

It wasn’t a creature at all—it was Anthurus archeri, also known as the Devil’s Fingers fungus.

This bizarre mushroom, originally from Australia and Tasmania, has spread around the world. It starts off looking like a white egg, then splits open to reveal bright red tentacles that reach outward like claws.

The tentacles are covered in slime and reek of carrion to attract flies, which spread its spores. No wonder people panic when they first see it—some even call the police thinking they’ve found something from another planet! 👽

But it’s all natural—just one of the strangest, creepiest creations of nature.

Now, I steer clear of that corner of the yard. I don’t water the flowers there anymore.
Let it grow—after all, some gifts from nature are better left untouched. 🌿💀