In the US, you’re far more likely to be killed by a domesticated animal than a wild one. Nevertheless, I’d say we maybe lose 10-12 people per year from a combination of mountain lion attacks, bear attacks, shark attacks, and bison attacks.
As regards other First World countries, I’m to understand that Australia’s deadly wild animal problem is quite a bit overblownn for the sake of stereotypes. Nevertheless, how often do Aussies fall victim to fatal attacks by wild critters? Further, I understand that Japan has had its issues with fatal bear attacks. What about Western Europe? Some quick googling reveals that you guys have bears in the far eastern regions, plus a couple of species of wild cats, jackals, wolverines, and wolves. Are you guys comparatively safe from wild animal attacks?
What counts as a “wild animal attack”? Serious question - because here in the UK I would be seriously surprised if any wild animal caused more deaths than wasps:
Estimates of the prevalence of anaphylaxis vary widely. In 2000, it was estimated that 25% of all UK deaths from anaphylaxis were due to reactions to hymenoptera stings. Every year in the UK there are 2–9 deaths due to anaphylaxis from bee or wasp stings. Wasp stings in the UK cause twice as many deaths due to anaphylaxis as bee stings.
Fatal wild animal attacks, if you leave out bees, wasps and snakes, are close to non-existent in Europe.
European brown bears almost never attack humans, outside bear hunting scenarios involving wounded animals fighting for their lives. Even then, fatal attacks simply don’t occur.
A mama bear with cubs can be dangerous, but encounters with these are exceedingly rare, as the bears expertly steer clear of humans. The single fatal bear attack in modern times here happened when a jogger suddenly found himself between a mama bear and her cubs. Even then, the mama bear only swiped at the jogger once. Her claw grabbed the guy’s neck, which lead to an embolism. So, even here, a freak accident was needed to make it a fatality.
Moose are the biggest land animal here, and could mess up a human. The only practical risk is again a mama moose with young. Ending up too close to the young can provoke an attack, which is a threat display more than anything. Some people have had to climb a tree to wait for the mama moose to leave guard. No-one has been killed in these rare encounters.
European wolves have never attacked humans in modern times. A wolf that didn’t quickly run away from a human encounter is headline news. Wolves in general are deadly afraid of humans.
Lynxes, wolverines, and raccoon dogs never attack humans, outside a rabid individual. They are way too small to do so otherwise, as per survival instinct.
As far as wild animals go, we are completely safe from animal attacks.
Mosquitoes that transmit potentially deadly diseases are on the rise in Europe: malaria, denge, west-nile-virus… seldom, but there are cases.
And then there is rabies. From foxes or bats, mostly. Very seldom, but there are some.
Wild boars can be vicious.
And bears are not limited to Eastern European countries: there habe been reported attacks, some deadly, in Spain, Germany (the famous Problembär) and Italy.
But it is not something that one should worry about. It is more dangerous to trip and fall while walking than being attacked by animals. Poisonous plants are also dangerous, we have many of those. But people don’t usually eat them.
Talking of eating: mussels and oysters may be the most dangerous things around here. And mayonnaise in summer. So: chicken. Nasty beasts. Not really wild, I guess.
Some dogs are dangerous, but probably not wild in the sense meant by the OP.
Despite Australia being home to some of the nastiest critters on the planet, fatal attacks by wildlife are surprisingly rare. Most commonly you will hear of crocodile attacks (folks, do NOT go in the water in the northern bits of Aus!!), sharks and perhaps snake bites or jellyfish stings.
Non-fatal attacks are far more frequent of course, and everything from a wee spider to a cassowary will definitely have a go at you if given a chance.
I’ll have to look into these “bear attacks, some deadly”, but based on the above, it’s not looking promising. Also, context is everything: like I said, bears that are attacked by humans fight back when there is no escape, so any bear hunting scenario is out of consideration, given that you need to seek out the animal and shoot and corner it before anything happens to you.
The American situation, where a Grizzly may walk into your tent and carry you away by the head to eat you just doesn’t happen with the European bear.
Thanks for the link! The killer bear was a female, and attacked in April. No mention of cubs in the bare-bones article, but one has to wonder, as an adult female in the spring time likely has 'em, having given birth during the winter in the den.
Very little context about the other attacks as well in the article, but that same bear attacked humans in June a couple years earlier. Again, an adult female in cub season. It’d be very interesting to learn about the context.
At any rate, the only Italian in modern times to have been fatally attacked by a bear, and fatality was the OP’s question.
Almost half of the 541 deaths are horses and cattle, maybe some wild but most in farm and riding settings, and then dogs come next.
Kangaroos and snakes are vying for deadliest wild thing, followed by bees. Sharks are poor performers, and their long-term average since start of European settlement has been 1 fatality p.a. Considering that since then the population has risen 25,000 times, is very coastal and spends lots of time in the water a rate of 1.5 p.a. is actually a big drop.
Overall 541 in 17 years is pretty good, considering every single thing in Australia is capable of attacking you.