Anatidaephobia is the fear that a duck is watching you. 12.5 percent of adults in the US have phobias. Phobias are a form of disorder that are the one of the most common of mental illness. The fear was first described by Gary Larson from the Far Side comic. He described it as: “The fear that somewhere, somehow, a duck is watching you.”

Anatidaephobia is caused by a negative experience with a duck. Ducks can also be very scary to small children and this can cause fear of them. Many people with this phobia turn down doctors because of the fear they’ll be laughed at.

Why is it so specific?

How many people have it?

Why is there a duck behind me?