What Are Montanans Most Afraid Of?

It’s that time of year when everyone’s talking about what gives them the creeps. Ghosts, goblins, and that one neighbor who is a little to excited to be on the HOA board. But as it turns out, Montanans have a different kind of fear keeping us up at night, and it has nothing to do with the supernatural. A new nationwide study dug into what people across the country are truly scared of, and Montana’s top phobia might just surprise you.

The study analyzed Google Trends to find out what each state has been secretly Googling as a fear. While Californians and New Yorkers are apparently terrified of heights, and folks in North Carolina can’t stand clowns, Montana’s most searched fear isn’t what you’d expect from a state full of rugged outdoorsmen and cowgirls.

Ready for it? According to the data, the biggest fear in Montana is holes. Yep, holes. Not the kind you dig for a fence post or the ones you hit while driving, but tiny, clustered holes like in a honeycomb or a sponge. It’s called trypophobia, and if you’re suddenly feeling itchy, you’re not alone. Psychologists say it may be an instinctive reaction to things that look diseased or dangerous.

While other states are scared of flying, crowds, or thunderstorms, Montanans are apparently side-eyeing a lotus seed pod. Either way, it’s proof that even the toughest state in the West has something that makes our skin crawl.