Talk about a real-life Halloween horror: On Oct. 31, the National Park Service released video of a backpacker's tent in Alaska being engulfed in daddy longlegs.
Even if you're not scared of spiders, this video has all the makings for a PG horror film: In the footage, the interior of a tent is illuminated by the backpacker's flashlight. The entire tent appears to be engulfed in daddy longlegs, with hundreds of spiders crawling over the bug netting of the unlucky camper's tent.
"In the remote depths of Lake Clark's vast, wild landscape, a weary backpacker settles in for a night at camp after a long day of exploring," the Lake Clark National Park & Preserve wrote in the video's caption, posted on its Facebook page. Lake Clark National Park is one of the least-visited national parks in the U.S. Located in western Alaska and known for its turquoise lakes, brown bears, and salmon, it's only accessible by airplane or boat.
Daddy longlegs, despite their appearance, aren't actually spiders. Also known as harvestmen, or Opiliones, they're actually more closely related to scorpions. Unlike spiders, which have two body segments, daddy longlegs only have one. And while you may have heard the myth that daddy longlegs are the most poisonous spider but their fangs are too short to bite humans, it's actually just that: a myth.
That doesn't mean they aren't super creepy, however—especially if hundreds of harvestmen are crawling on your tent. Clumps of daddy longlegs aren't an unusual sight—just an unfortunate one if they choose your tent. Scientists don't know why the spider-like creatures bunch up, but theories include to keep from drying out in arid climates, as a defense mechanism, and to stay warm in cooling temperatures.
There's no word on how the unfortunate camper got out of his tent. But, hopefully, the spiders cleared out by morning.
READ MORE: Man Hears Bone-Chilling Spooky Sounds While Exploring Abandoned Mine
