# In Your Geographic Area, What Animal Is Most Likely to Kill You? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 1, 2006, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-geographic-area-what-animal-is-most-likely-to-kill-you/374828 "2006-10-01T13:52:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-geographic-area-what-animal-is-most-likely-to-kill-you/374828/1 "2006-10-01T13:52:43Z")
What animal, native to your geographic area, has the best likelihood of causing your death? For me, here in central Illinois, it’s gotta be the _Odocoileus virginianus_, AKA the [White-tailed deer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-tailed_deer), around which many an Illinois driver warp their vehicles every year. If we were to narrow the definition to something that could potentially kill me _directly_, then we’re going to have to go with the _Agkistrodon contortrix_, or the [Copperhead](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agkistrodon_contortrix), one of four venomous species of snake found in Illinois. Although, it would take hours of googling to find the specifics of the last snake-induced fatality in Illinois. Doubtless it’s been at least a decade ago. My suspicion is that 90% of all animal-on-human fatalities in the developed world are caused by _Canis lupus_, the [domestic dog](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_dog). So let’s not count them, mmmkay. Ditto for other domesticated animals such as cats or cattle; or common animals that can sometimes develop rabies, such as raccoons, squirrells, etc. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-geographic-area-what-animal-is-most-likely-to-kill-you/374828/2 "2006-10-01T13:56:53Z")
[QUOTE=HeyHomie] …around which many an Illinois driver **warp** their vehicles every year. [/QUOTE] Make that “… **wrap** their vehicles…”. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-geographic-area-what-animal-is-most-likely-to-kill-you/374828/3 "2006-10-01T13:57:14Z")
There’s not much choice around here I’m afraid so I’ve got to go for an irate sheep. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-geographic-area-what-animal-is-most-likely-to-kill-you/374828/4 "2006-10-01T13:58:52Z")
[QUOTE=HeyHomie] My suspicion is that 90% of all animal-on-human fatalities in the developed world are caused by _Canis lupus_, the [domestic dog](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_dog). So let’s not count them, mmmkay. Ditto for other domesticated animals such as cats or cattle; or common animals that can sometimes develop rabies, such as raccoons, squirrells, etc. [/QUOTE] Well, that pretty much covers every animal in my area (Chicago). Except humans. Yeah, I’m probably more likely to be offed by a human than any other animal. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-geographic-area-what-animal-is-most-likely-to-kill-you/374828/5 "2006-10-01T14:26:27Z")
I bet for most parts of the US it’s bees or mosquitos. Anaphalaxis or various mosquito born diseases are probably most dangerous. For mammals, probably car/moose collisions are the biggest danger up north. ---
**Author:** ![Arien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arien)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-geographic-area-what-animal-is-most-likely-to-kill-you/374828/6 "2006-10-01T14:30:51Z")
Since I live in Florida, [alligators](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_alligator_attacks_in_the_United_States_by_decade) are the first animal to come to mind. I’m sure it’s really something much more mundane like bees. Another wikipedia article led to [this story](http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0719041gator1.html) , about a guy who hit his girlfriend with an alligator. ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-geographic-area-what-animal-is-most-likely-to-kill-you/374828/7 "2006-10-01T14:33:18Z")
I’ll go with the Great Smokey Homeless Dude. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-geographic-area-what-animal-is-most-likely-to-kill-you/374828/8 "2006-10-01T14:44:33Z")
Poorly cooked fugu? (Vancouver metro) Oh, actually, irate agressive barred owls in the woods. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-geographic-area-what-animal-is-most-likely-to-kill-you/374828/9 "2006-10-01T14:54:16Z")
[Habu viper](http://www.nakazen.co.jp/yakuso/herb/image/habu.jpg), jellyfish, [lion fish](http://seppo.ihalainen.fi/albums/album48/Lion_fish1.jpg) ,[cone shell](http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/02sab/logs/aug15/media/cone_600.jpg), or [sea snake](http://www.divegallery.com/sea_krait.htm) (one of these chased me while I was scuba diving yesterday, scared the shit out of me). I’ll be shocked if I make it out of here alive. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-geographic-area-what-animal-is-most-likely-to-kill-you/374828/10 "2006-10-01T15:15:42Z")
A co-workers dog got attacked by mountain lion about 2 weeks ago. So that’s up there (dog survived, the vet said it was a lion attack). Never seen one myself. My Wife runs in the woods a lot, so that is a bit of a concern. She runs with our two dogs, and they are very protective. I guess that helps a bit. Not that a dog could take out a lion as much as most of them would wait for a better prey, and not want to be outnumbered. The black bears are pretty timid, but I would not want to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’ve had to chase a few away from our house/property. I always make sure that I am close enough to a car, or the house and fire a shot into a tree near them. I know I may only have a 50/50 chance of stopping it if charges me. Probably a lot less. I keep my distance. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-geographic-area-what-animal-is-most-likely-to-kill-you/374828/11 "2006-10-01T15:33:58Z")
Alligators and water mocassins. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-geographic-area-what-animal-is-most-likely-to-kill-you/374828/12 "2006-10-01T15:37:34Z")
I would say the greatest dangers in north Georgia are: 1. Yellow jackets/hornets/bees/wasps (allergic reactions) 2. Fire ants (in large enough numbers, can kill children) 3. Copperheads (death is rare) 4. Cottonmouths (water mocassins) (death is rare) 5. Rattlesnakes (death is rare) 6. Spiders (black widow, brown recluse - rarely fatal, but I imagine it’s happened) 7. Black bears (I’m not aware of any fatality in Georgia in recent years, but we do have black bears and they have been known to kill humans in unusual cases) 8. Racoons (via rabies) We used to have mountain lions (catamounts/cougars/pumas) in these parts, but those seem to be extinct. (I used to hear rumors of sightings when I was a kid, but no more.) Also bobcats are around, and will attack humans in VERY RARE circumstances, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a fatal bobcat attack. Bats also frequently carry rabies, but it is exceedingly rare for a bat to bite a human. People are much more at risk from “cute” animals like racoons, which they are tempted to handle. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-geographic-area-what-animal-is-most-likely-to-kill-you/374828/13 "2006-10-01T15:40:43Z")
Well, it’s tempting to say grizzley bears, because a couple of people around these parts usually wind up dead from bear attacks, but it’s probably more likely rattle snakes. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-geographic-area-what-animal-is-most-likely-to-kill-you/374828/14 "2006-10-01T15:43:18Z")
I live in Key Largo, FL and I think the most likely animal to kill me would be a Portuguese Man o’ War [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese\_Man\_o](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Man_o)’\_War or maybe a shark of some sort. I don’t think we have gators down here (although maybe we do), and we have scorpions but they don’t usually kill. Maybe a poisonous snake, though. Or the Florida Skunk ape. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-geographic-area-what-animal-is-most-likely-to-kill-you/374828/15 "2006-10-01T15:50:33Z")
Considering that this area is under a triple E alert, at the moment I’d say a mosquito. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-geographic-area-what-animal-is-most-likely-to-kill-you/374828/16 "2006-10-01T15:50:55Z")
In southern AZ, outside of humans\*, would say, 1. Mountain lions 2. Africanized bees 3. Rattlers 4. Mosquitos (West Nile virus) - What was Groucho’s quote? Something to th effect of, “Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.” ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-geographic-area-what-animal-is-most-likely-to-kill-you/374828/17 "2006-10-01T15:57:05Z")
Here in the city, it’s a toss-up between humans and moose. Outside the city, probably grizzly. Up on the North Slope, polar bear. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-geographic-area-what-animal-is-most-likely-to-kill-you/374828/18 "2006-10-01T16:01:52Z")
I don’t know if they are really all that likely to actually kill, but the Black Widow spider is quite common around here. I’ve killed a few in the garage over the years. Beyond that, probably rattlesnakes that have come down from the hills would be the most dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![KRC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/45deac/32.png) [@KRC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRC)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-geographic-area-what-animal-is-most-likely-to-kill-you/374828/19 "2006-10-01T18:13:44Z")
Aside from the humans here, who are quite accomplished at killing one another, the most deadly animal would probably be the black bear or the flea (the latter can carry plague and the former is often attracted to suburban areas by people who foolishly feed it.) We also have mountain lions here but I think the last fatality was over 30 years ago. Death from snakes, black widows, and scorpions is very rare. Mice are a problem as they can carry the Hantavirus. It is not very common but a few people die of it each year. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-geographic-area-what-animal-is-most-likely-to-kill-you/374828/20 "2006-10-01T18:44:19Z")
Mosquitos! We’re all worried about West Nile here. There are mountain lions, and a bear wandered all the way down to a shopping center on the freeway a couple of months ago, but really–it’s mosquitos. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-geographic-area-what-animal-is-most-likely-to-kill-you/374828.md?page=2)