In a visual search study by Öhman, Flykt, and Esteves (2001) shorter reaction times (RTs) were shown to snake and spider targets than to flower and mushroom targets. The current study investigated if preparation for action to potential threats could explain this difference. In this study two main changes were made to the paradigm. All possible combinations of target and distractors were used to disentangle the effects of targets and distractors, and the responses had to be withheld until after detection. The results suggest that the shorter RTs to snakes and spiders than flowers and mushrooms were due to preparation for faster action to potential threats than to non-threats.