A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at which animal was the deadliest in each state. The chances of you dying at the hands of any of these creatures are still extremely low. Just remember to always follow state wildlife regulations and treat animals with respect when you’re out and about. You might be surprised when you see some of the state’s deadliest creatures.
Here Are The Deadliest Animals In Every State Of America
Alabama – Dogs
You may be surprised to learn that man’s best friend can put your life in danger in Alabama. When it comes to animal-related fatalities, dog attacks top the list at the CDC. While the majority of dogs are friendly, a poorly trained aggressive dog may cause a life-threatening situation. What do you think the moral of the story is? Make sure your dog is well-trained and watch out for any aggressive tendencies.
Alaska – Moose
Alaska – Moose
You may be surprised to learn that moose are enormous animals. Most people will tremble in their boots just by catching a glimpse of one. Vehicles frequently hit these enormous creatures on the highway, and while most of the time the damage is minor, accidents do occur that result in death or serious injury. Alaska had 17 moose-related deaths and 81 serious injury crashes between 2000 and 2010.
Alaska – Moose
Arizona – Dogs
So it’s correct that dogs are the most lethal creature in the state. Dog attacks claimed the lives of 26 people in Arizona between 1999 and 2016, according to the CDC.
Arizona – Dogs
Arkansas – Black Bears
The black bear is the most likely animal to be involved in an incident in Arkansas. Generally, these creatures prefer to stay out of harm’s way, but in rare instances, they have been known to cause harm. For example, a hunter got mauled after entering a cave without realizing he was in black bear territory. The hunter was bitten on the head by a bear, but he was able to survive. However, he admitted that he was to blame.
Arkansas – Black Bears
California – Rattlesnake
The rattlesnake is the most likely animal to kill someone in California. There are 36 different species of rattlesnake, and while this may be frightening, only 0.5% of rattlesnake bites result in death. To obtain antivenom in the event of a rattlesnake bite, seek medical attention right away.
California – Rattlesnake
Colorado – Cougars
Large cats, not elderly women, pose the greatest threat to your livelihood. There are many dangerous animals in Colorado, including ticks, spiders, and snakes, but cougar attacks are by far the most common.
Colorado – Cougars
Connecticut – Bobcats
Bobcats are the most dangerous animals to people in Connecticut, especially if they are rabid. However, while most bobcats are peaceful and avoid conflict, some rabid individuals may deliberately target humans.
Connecticut – Bobcats
Delaware – Coyotes
It’s difficult to find the state’s most dangerous animal in Delaware because it’s so small. There are reports of pet attacks and coyotes lack of fear of humans because of the invasive species (coyotes) expanding into residential areas.
Delaware – Coyotes
Florida – Mosquitoes
It’s ironic that in a state rife with alligators and snakes, the most deadly species is the mosquito. However, it makes sense when considering their propensity to transmit fatal illnesses such as the West Nile virus and many types of encephalitis. At times, mosquitoes transmit illnesses from other nations, such as yellow fever, dengue fever, and malaria. Stock up on mosquito repellant during insect season!
Florida – Mosquitoes
Georgia – Snakes
Copperhead, cottonmouth, and coral snakes are Georgia’s deadliest snakes, accounting for the majority of the state’s animal-related fatalities. Notably, the frequency of snake bites in Georgia rose by 40% in 2017, most likely as a result of shorter, warmer winters.
Georgia – Snakes
Hawaii – Tiger Sharks
Contrary to popular belief, the deadliest animal in Hawaii is not the great white shark, but the tiger shark. While they are considerably smaller than sharks, they are the primary cause of shark attacks in the Hawaiian islands, especially off the coast of Maui.
Hawaii – Tiger Sharks
Idaho – Bears
According to the CDC, the state of Idaho’s deadliest animals is “large mammals,” which means brown bears and grizzly bears. One lady survived an assault by a bear while hiking on a path near Priest Lake in 2017. The bear was defending her cubs, and the lady was accompanied by her two dogs, who may have angered the bear. She survived but required almost 100 stitches.
Idaho – Bears
Illinois – Zombie Coyotes
You may be wondering what a zombie coyote is. It is, in fact, a rabid coyote that has been mistaken for a sick dog. When the unwary victim approaches too closely to assist, they get bitten. To add to the “interestingness,” Illinois is also home to many venomous snake species!
Illinois – Zombie Coyotes
Indiana – Deer
Deer are not renowned for their intelligence, since they often rush out onto the road while vehicles are racing at them. As a result of their frequent collisions with cars, deer are the most probable animal to inflict death and damage in the state of Indiana. 14,000 deer were involved in automobile accidents in Indiana alone in 2016.
Indiana – Deer
Iowa – Cows
Indeed, the cow is the state of Iowa’s most lethal animal. If you’re wondering how it works, allow us to explain: Iowa is home to 21% of the country’s cattle and 16% of the country’s livestock operations. Working with livestock is inherently hazardous, and an employee may suffer a fatal injury if he or she is confined in an enclosed area with an angry animal.
Iowa – Cows
Kansas – Cows
And once again, the most deadly animal is a cow, this time in Kansas. Kansas is another state that is home to a significant portion of the nation’s cattle industry, and like with Iowa, sometimes mishaps occur when employees get trapped in hazardous proximity to the animals.
Kansas – Cows
Kentucky – Black Bears
While bears may seem to be adorable and cuddly, as you’ve undoubtedly gathered from reading this list so far, they can also be very deadly – particularly when defending their young. As an intriguing side point, Kentucky also contains mountain lions, even though not a single one has been seen there since the Civil War — until 2015!
Kentucky – Black Bears
Louisiana – Hornets
Hornets and other stinging insects are Louisiana’s most deadly creatures. Hornets are particularly frightening because, unlike bees, they can continue to attack their victims without losing their stingers. And, whereas honey bee colonies usually do not exceed 100 bees, hornet colonies will continue to expand!
Louisiana – Hornets
Maine – Moose
Moose are the most deadly animal in Maine, just as they are in Alaska. They like to congregate in rural parts of the state, and fortunately, they seldom attack unless they feel threatened!
Maine – Moose
Maryland – Bees
It seems as if no one is immune to stinging insects – particularly those sensitive to bees! Unfortunately for a group of high school students, this lesson was learned the hard way when one of them kicked a beehive, causing the whole hive to swarm and repeatedly sting the children, sending many to the hospital. The lesson of the tale is to refrain from kicking beehives.
Maryland – Bees
Massachusetts – Stinging Insects
Massachusetts is home to a variety of bee and stinging insect species, including the two-inch-long “cicada killer” (pictured). These insects have the potential to cause serious allergic responses in some unfortunate individuals.
Massachusetts – Stinging Insects
Michigan – Dogs
The CDC stated that dog attacks have increased in Michigan. It’s critical to always check with the owner before touching an unfamiliar dog!
Michigan – Dogs
Minnesota – Deer
Deer are most active in Minnesota during dawn and twilight when visibility is probably the poorest. Additionally, there are more vehicles on the road during these hours since many people are traveling to and from work, which results in the highest number of accidents.
Minnesota – Deer
Mississippi – Deer
Given Mississippi’s abundance of black bears, which may sometimes represent a danger to people, it may come as a surprise that the greatest hazard is deer. However, it is not the deer’s fault; deaths occur when hunters put up their deer-hunting stands high in the trees and sometimes fall, inflicting injuries or even death.
Mississippi – Deer
Missouri – Snakes
Missouri is home to five distinct species of poisonous snakes, which have claimed many lives.
Missouri – Snakes
Montana – Grizzly Bears
The big grizzly bear has made its presence felt in Montana. In 1967, during the “Night of the Grizzlies,” two young ladies were murdered within a few miles of one another on separate camping excursions by two different grizzly bears. This occurred when the public started feeding the bears, who then lost their fear of people and began venturing closer to humans in search of food.
Montana – Grizzly Bears
Nebraska – Cows
Nebraska, like Iowa and Kansas, has a sizable proportion of the nation’s cattle, which has resulted in a comparatively high incidence of cow-related deaths from blunt-force trauma in the state.
Nebraska – Cows
Nevada – Deer Mice
While deer mice may seem little and innocent, they may be very hazardous due to the viruses they transmit – specifically, hantavirus, which is linked with two fatal human illnesses.
Nevada – Deer Mice
New Hampshire – Dogs
Once again, the most probable animal to cause fatal injury in the state of New Hampshire is a dog. However, the state has some very severe rules against dog attacks, and victims are often protected by state law when harm is done.
New Hampshire – Dogs
New Jersey – Coyotes
Coyotes have been an increasing issue in New Jersey in recent years, as they have started moving east. In recent years, the coyote population has increased from 100 to an astonishing 3,000!
New Jersey – Coyotes
New Mexico – Deer
You’d think that a state with so many deserts would be home to an abundance of poisonous snakes and scorpions, but once again, it’s deer that are responsible for the majority of animal-related fatalities and injuries. In 2016, the number of deer-related deaths rose by 9%, and curiously, June is the month that sees the highest number of these fatalities each year.
New Mexico – Deer
New York – Dogs
Dog attacks are the leading cause of animal-related fatalities in New York State. It makes sense given the density of New York City and the number of individuals with large dogs locked up in tiny apartments!
New York – Dogs
North Carolina – Fire Ants
North Carolina is one of only two states in which poisonous arthropods have been designated as the state’s most hazardous animal. While fire ant bites are seldom lethal, they do have the ability to induce shock, which may be fatal in certain cases. The state is now infested with fire ants — to the point that your odds of getting bitten by one in a year are absurdly high!
North Carolina – Fire Ants
North Dakota – Bison
Bison are beautiful animals, but picture confronting one in the wild. No, thank you. North Dakota has a history of bison assaults, and a 65-year-old hiker was knocked unconscious and wounded in 2017 when a bison rushed at him.
North Dakota – Bison
Ohio – Dogs
While pit bulls account for the bulk of dog-related fatalities in Ohio, an infant was killed in 2016 by a labrador-retriever mix. As you proceed down this list, bear in mind that bad canine behavior is generally the result of inadequate training and/or mistreatment!
Ohio – Dogs