It might seem like a quiet, empty place, but the desert is overflowing with dangerous creatures. If you ever bug out in the desert you should be aware of these animals. Here are nine that you ought to avoid…

Snakes
Rattlesnakes are among the most popular, so named for the rattles at the end of their tails, which they shake in warning. Ignore the warning and guess what? You could be dead within seconds. The inland taipan, considered by some to be the world’s most venomous snake, with enough venom to kill a hundred adults, can also be found in the desert, namely the deserts of Australia

Scorpions
The deathstalker scorpion is the most well-known. Just its name is enough to give you a chill, and it lives up to its reputation with a powerful venom. While the venom is rarely lethal, the bite of the deathstalker can be extremely painful.

Spiders
The Australian equivalent of the black widow, the redback spider is responsible for as many as 10,000 spider bites in Australia every year. While its bite may be as painful as a mere pinprick, swelling, nausea, abdominal pain, sweating and headaches generally occur and, if untreated, the bite can even be fatal.

Africanized Bees
Africanized bees tend to swarm and when threatened, even from a distance away, the whole swarm will attack, pursuing you and stinging you all over. What can you do? Seek shelter as fast as you can, while covering your face.

Wasps
Apart from the common wasps, there’s the tarantula hawk wasp, which feeds on tarantulas and is capable of delivering the second-most painful insect bite — enough to paralyze you for about three minutes. Paper wasps are also common, though they will not sting unless their nest is threatened.

Cougar
Like other cats, it is a fierce and silent hunter, and, while it often preys on hoofed animals, birds and small reptiles, it can sometimes see humans as prey, especially when they run away from it or play dead.

Red Kangaroo
Red kangaroos have been known to kick humans when threatened. With their powerful legs, that they keep fit by hopping all day, and their sharp claws, they can cause serious injury.

Ostrich
How is it dangerous? Ostriches have long, powerful legs that enable them to run fast or to deliver strong kicks. They also have long claws on their toes — up to 21 inches (53 centimeters) long! These claws can leave serious puncture wounds and can even sometimes disembowel their victims. (shiver)

Gila Monster
Of the few venomous lizards in the world, the Gila monster is the most well-known. When they do bite, you’ll have to submerge it in water, which is scarce in the desert, in order to get it to let go.

Really?! A red kangaroo? I would never have expected that animal to make the list. And I can't believe an ostrich is capable of disemboweling a person! For more information on these frightening desert animals, check out IP Factly.

Featured Image via Brent Myers/Flickr