I Found a Slimy Red Creature in My Yard — The Smell Was Worse Than I Imagined

It began as an ordinary morning. I stepped outside to water my flowers, breathing in the crisp air and enjoying the quiet — until a sharp, unpleasant smell suddenly caught my attention. The odor was so strong it made me pause, uneasy and alert.

I looked around, expecting to find spoiled food or perhaps a dead animal hidden nearby. Then I saw it — a strange, red, glistening mass near the flowerbed, faintly moving in the sunlight. My pulse quickened as confusion and dread mixed inside me.

The thing looked unreal — slimy, bright crimson, and oddly shaped. Its stench, both rotten and chemical, made me gag. Fear urged me to step back, but curiosity pushed me forward. I took a quick photo and searched online for answers, typing “red slimy mushroom with bad smell.”

Within seconds, I found it: Anthurus archeri, known as the Devil’s Fingers mushroom. Originating from Australia and Tasmania, it bursts from an egg-like base, spreading red, finger-like arms across the ground.

Its terrible smell attracts insects, which then spread its spores — a clever, if unsettling, survival trick. Learning this eased my fear but didn’t make it any less eerie to see up close.

Despite its grotesque form, this fungus plays a vital ecological role by decomposing organic matter and supporting soil life. I chose to observe it from afar, careful not to disturb it.

Now, each time I pass that corner of the yard, I feel both respect and caution. That morning taught me how nature can be both beautiful and deeply strange — a reminder of its endless surprises.