Nail-ish. That’s what yesterday’s blog touched on. The painting of the nails. In that bloggy entry, I mentioned a story of a woman in Florida who was killed by an alligator. And her tragedy made me wonder how many times that happens in a year. And other things.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data cited records that alligators killed ten people in the southeastern U.S. between 1999 and 2019. During that same period, five times as many people died after being mauled by dogs, and 12 times as many were struck by lightning. So chances of “Death By Alligator” are slim.
According to several sources, approximately 1,000 people are killed by crocodiles worldwide every year. But not any have been recorded in the United States last year. However, I still would not smile at a crocodile.
I wanted to know who those most dangerous animals in the United States might be. After one Google Search, I obtained several different lists. It all depends on how you ask the question. The results vary depending on whether they deem the animal the most “dangerous” or the most “deadly.”
So, I will stick to deadly.
The first list I checked on told me that “humans” were ranked as the deadliest animal in the United States, citing the following statistics straight from the FBI:
810,825 Aggravated Assaults
1,401,840 Burglaries
319,356 Robberies
1,447,321 Violent Crimes
22,900 Murders
As for the other animals on the planet, a few things should be considered. In terms of fatalities, it’s important to note that the majority of these deaths are due to non-predatory factors. You know. Things like disease or crappy accidents. In some cases, allergic reactions. With that said, here are ten animals that have been associated with a higher number of human fatalities in the United States (not in any specific order):
• Mosquitoes: We all know them. Mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting diseases such as West Nile virus, Zika virus, and various types of encephalitis. And, of course, this leads to a significant number of fatalities each year. Now malaria is back in the United States.
• Bees, Wasps, and Hornets: Stings hurt like all get out. But sometimes, stings cause severe allergic reactions in certain individuals. They can be fatal. Honey, do, honey, don’t.
• Dogs: Dog attacks, though relatively rare, can result in fatalities, especially in cases involving large or aggressive breeds. I want to make a big note here. Pit Bulls reportedly killed 346 Americans from 2005–2019. Shih Tzus, Yorkies, Pugs, Poodles, and so many others, did not kill a single soul.
• Spiders: While deaths from spider bites are extremely rare, the black widow and brown recluse spiders are venomous species found in the U.S. They’ll bite you, alright. And they can cause severe reactions.
Sidebar: I always try to carry bugs outside. But sometimes, they meet their end when we have a confrontation. Especially now with mosquitoes. And spiders with big teeth.
• Snakes: Snakebite fatalities are relatively uncommon in the United States. But. There are some venomous kinds here and there, like rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths. And those can cause fatalities if bites are not treated promptly. Around Ohio? We have three: copperhead, massasauga, and timber rattlesnake.
• Cows: Surprisingly, cows are responsible for a notable number of fatalities each year. Who knew? These are mostly farming incidents involving livestock handling. “Don’t touch my udder, buddy. I’m warning you.”
• Horses: It happens. People fall off horses, get thrown, or get kicked. And these result in fatalities.
• Deer: While not typically considered dangerous, collisions with deer while driving have caused many fatalities.
• Bears: Brown bears and polar bears are the worst. I can’t get a solid number on this, but Alaska is by far the most dangerous state for bear attacks. Polar bears.
• Sharks: Fatal shark attacks are rare. But they happen. Jaws has put the fear of Jaws in people.
• Alligators: Fatalities from alligator attacks are infrequent. But not impossible.
Really, thank goodness we live in the United States. Australia, Africa? The Amazon? It’s a whole other world out there and much worse for animal danger.
On the other hand, animals can be like magic. And oftentimes they are.
“”””””””””””””””
Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That’s the problem.
— A. A. Milne
“”””””””””””””””
Four legs good, two legs bad.
— George Orwell
“”””””””””””””””
I ask people why they have deer heads on their walls. They always say because it’s such a beautiful animal. There you go. I think my mother is attractive, but I have photographs of her.
— Ellen Degeneres
“”””””””””””””””
Danger. Danger. I love you. But not the danger.
