Hearing a sudden, loud noise can make you jump.
Surprises can emerge from anywhere. Certain surprises, such as a secret birthday party, an unexpected floral delivery or an unannounced visit from a friend, can earn a pleasant response. Then there are those situations that elicit a stronger, more negative reaction, such as being startled by a loud noise or crossing paths with an organism that slithers or scurries. It's these latter scenarios that are more likely to make the bravest of folks jump and the faintest of hearts jump.
Bugs and Spiders
Insects and arachnids possess a creepy factor attributed to their numerous legs, quick speed and features that can include antennae, wings and multiple eyes. From a distance, bugs and spiders appear harmless enough, especially if they make their home in distant bushes or far-reaching corners of the house. But, when they intrude on your personal space -- either by entering your peripheral vision on a nearby pillow or wall or by tickling the hairs all the way up your arm -- that unwelcome invasion can be enough to make you jump out of their way.
Snakes
With their scaly skin, limbless bodies and lashing tongues, snakes strike out on being called cute. But, when a handler wraps a snake's body securely around his arm, it's hard to resist a quick brush of your fingertips across the reptile's smooth skin. When a snake lies coiled behind the safety of a zoo's glass enclosure, even then the patterned scales and beady eyes deserve a little admiration. It's only when the lowly snake surprises unsuspecting gardeners or hikers in the forest that the body's need to flee leaps into action.
Rodents
Mice and rats are a scary sight inside a home because these animals spread diseases through their feces, urine and saliva as well as through external parasites that have fed on their possibly diseased bodies. Finding evidence of their presence may seem bad enough -- chewed bags of food and droppings -- but actually having them cross your path can be down-right dizzying. Their sudden, chaotic dashes can spook you into jumping all over the place until you can plant your heels safely on to the seat of a nearby chair.
Loud Noises
Nothing can grab your attention better than a sharp noise from an object or a person. The inevitable burst of an overinflating balloon can cause a quick jump when the latex bubble finally pops. And, what hiccup sufferer hasn't endured a startling sneak attack in an attempt to scare away the annoying condition? Whether you're surprised by a sound or actually can anticipate its arrival, this abrupt interruption in an otherwise serene moment can make even the steadiest of individuals flinch.
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