You should be afraid of these dangerous animals!
We live in a big, big country, and as you would expect in the beautiful wilderness this country has there are numerous animals. All of them are fascinating in their own way, and many of us love watching them in documentaries on our TVs.
But you better keep this distance because most of them are dangerous animals you don’t want to be around in real life. There are many critters in the forests and fields of the US that can kill a human in a matter of minutes, and being aware of the risks is probably the most efficient method to keep yourself safe.
We don’t have man-eating lions and tigers as there are in Africa and Asia, but we have our dangerous animals. Here is a complete list of the deadliest animals in the US. Read on and discover all you need to know about them. Stay safe!
Bears
They are some of the most gorgeous and iconic creatures we can find in the US. We admire them for their beauty and strength, but at the same time, we should not forget that bears are also among the most dangerous animals you can encounter in the wild.
Grizzly bears are particularly notorious for fatal encounters. For example, in 2021, these bears were responsible for four deadly attacks. On average, they kill two to five people per year, but this number can greatly vary based on circumstances.
Beats are among the most dangerous animals because they are big. A human can’t fight a bear with its bare hands because this is literally impossible. It’s important to note that bears are not inherently aggressive toward humans, but they can become agitated if they find a food source or if they have cubs.
Black bears should also never be underestimated. They are smaller compared to brown bears or grizzly bears, but when they have cubs, they can become overly protective, and you should avoid them at all costs.
Deer
We look at them and we see these gentle and harmless creatures which makes it incredibly surprising to find out that they are among the top most dangerous animals in the US.
Deers are not actively hunting for humans; this is also such a funny image, but what they do and what causes so much havoc is that they jump out of the darkness and into your path. More specifically in front of your car.
These guys are responsible for up to 200 deaths annually, and most of them are car accidents! Imagine driving into the dark on a secluded road, and out of nowhere, a deer jumps in front of your car.
This is a scary scenario but is something that has a high chance of happening. This type of collision can be fatal for both the driver and the deer. We know that this is a sad situation, but all of us should be aware of this thing happening all around the country.
Even if uncommon, deer attacks on humans still occur. When the mating season starts, the male deer (bucks) become highly territorial and aggressive. They have huge antlers, and they can use them as weapons. Lashing out happens, and this is why you should avoid deer during this period.
Cougars
Lion mountains, pumas, or cougars, however you like to call them, are large felines with an earned predator reputation. Everybody going in the mountains for a hike knows that about them and tries to be careful not to encounter the cougars.
Not typically aggressive towards humans, they are still dangerous animals that are responsible for 27 deaths in the last century and numerous attacks. Also, the cougar can be found all across America, from mountainous forests to swampy lowlands. All they need are good places to hide and enough prey.
A cougar is about the same size as a leopard, which means they are pretty big. Generally, they hunt deer, but if humans venture too deep into their territories, attacks could happen. To protect yourself, you should avoid their territory, but in the unfortunate event an attack happens, you need to fight back with everything you have on hand.
Bees, hornets, and wasps
There are many people out there who are afraid of these insects, and they are not wrong. When you say dangerous animals, maybe you don’t think about bees and wasps, but they cause over 56 fatalities per year in the US!
Most of these deaths happened because of the allergic reactions (anaphylactic shock) caused by their venom. Many people have no idea that they are allergic, and if they get stung in a place that is not close to a hospital, tragedies like these take place.
If you want to differentiate bees from wasps or hornets, the first thing you should know is that bees have fuzzy and plump bodies while wasps or hornets are almost completely hairless, and they have a thin waist that you can immediately recognize.
Also, an important distinction is that bees can only sting once, and they leave the stinger and a part of their abdomen behind. However, wasps and hornets can sting numerous times, and this can make them even more dangerous.
Sharks
They have a fearsome reputation, but despite this, you need to know that sharks are responsible for very few human attacks, at least in the US. Most of the time, sharks attack because they get confused and believe that swimmers or surfers are prey.
Scientists say that sharks will take an initial “exploratory bite,” and as soon as they realize the human does not taste like their usual prey, they will swim away and leave the human alone.
In the U.S., an average of one person dies from a shark attack every two years, yet they are still considered one of the most dangerous animals you can encounter. Generally, most shark attacks occur in coastal states, with Florida taking first place, followed by California, Hawaii, Texas, and the Carolinas. These locations have warm waters that sharks love, and because there are so many people swimming, they also offer opportunities for human-shark interactions.
Livestock
When you think about the most dangerous animals, you are probably not thinking about livestock, right? However, cows and horses are responsible for most human deaths across all US states. For example, cows kill over 20 people annually, primarily through blunt force trauma to the head or chest. Most of the victims are the farmworkers who stay with these critters all day long.
At first glance, cows might seem slow and docile, but it’s their size and strength that make them so dangerous. Also, there are many cows out there that have very sharp horns! They are curious and playful creatures, but they play with you by head-butting or charging, which can unintentionally cause many injuries.
Horses are also dangerous and kill approximately 20 people each year, with some estimates suggesting numbers as high as 100. Most of these deaths are caused by riding accidents and horse kicks.
Next time you go hiking this item might help you keep the bears away from you: Coghlan’s Bear Bell with Magnetic Silencer, Black
You should also read: The Animals Most Likely to Land a Zookeeper in the Hospital
