# What is the most dangerous wild animal in England? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 5, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375 "2003-07-05T13:51:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![county](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@county](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/county)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375/41 "2003-07-06T04:37:31Z")
Well, I think clarification is in order, in or out of the zoo I think bears are the most dangerous wild animals in England. Otherwise are we talking about killing humans?, maiming humans?, carrying off children? ??? or just dangerous? I’ll stick with bears. (In the zoo) (without further clarification) ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375/42 "2003-07-06T05:32:42Z")
The pigeons in Trafalgar square are scary! ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375/43 "2003-07-06T05:52:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by county \* > \*\*Well, I think clarification is in order, in or out of the zoo I think bears are the most dangerous wild animals in England. > > Otherwise are we talking about killing humans?, maiming humans?, carrying off children? ??? or just dangerous? > > I’ll stick with bears. (In the zoo) (without further clarification) \*\* Well I was talking about wild bears but I can see how urban bears might be a concern according to a Mr. Chris Robin. > [@](#): > > Whenever I walk on a London street, > I’m ever so careful to watch my feet; > And I keep in the squares, > And the masses of bears, > Who wait at the corner all ready to eat > The sillies who tread on the lines of the street, > Go back to their lairs, > And I say to them, “Bears, > Just look how I’m walking in all of the squares!” > And the little bears growl to each other, “He’s mine, > As soon as he’s silly and steps on a line.” > And some of the bigger bears try to pretend > That they came round the the corner to look for a friend; > And they try to pretend that nobody cares > Whether you walk on the lines or squares. > But only the sillies believe their talk; > It’s ever so portant how you walk. > And it’s ever so jolly to call out, “Bears, > Just watch me walking in all the squares!” ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375/44 "2003-07-06T06:52:09Z")
I can’t BELIEVE no one has mentioned the Rabbit of Caerbannog! What kind of Brits are we dealing with here anyway if they can’t quote chapter and verse of Monty Python? > [@](#): > > TIM: > Behold the cave of Caerbannog! > > \ > > TIM: > There he is! > > ARTHUR: > Where? > > TIM: > There! > > ARTHUR: > What, behind the rabbit? > > TIM: > It is the rabbit. > > ARTHUR: > You silly sod! > > TIM: > What? > > ARTHUR: > You got us all worked up! > > TIM: > Well, that’s no ordinary rabbit! > > ARTHUR: > Ohh. > > TIM: > That’s the most foul, cruel, and bad-tempered rodent you ever set eyes on! > > ROBIN: > You tit! I soiled my armour I was so scared! > > TIM: > Look, that rabbit’s got a vicious streak a mile wide! It’s a killer! > > \ > > ROBIN: > What’s he do, nibble your bum? > > TIM: > He’s got huge, sharp-- eh-- he can leap about-- look at the bones! > > ARTHUR: > Go on, Bors. Chop his head off! > > BORS: > Right! Silly little bleeder. One rabbit stew comin’ right up! > > TIM: > Look! > [squeak] > > BORS: > Aaaugh! > [dramatic chord] > [clunk] > > ARTHUR: > Jesus Christ! > > TIM: > I warned you! > > ROBIN: > I done it again! > > TIM: > I warned you, but did you listen to me? Oh, no, you knew it all, didn’t you? Oh, it’s just a harmless little bunny, isn’t it? Well, it’s always the same. I always tell them– > > ARTHUR: > Oh, shut up! ---
**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375/45 "2003-07-06T07:47:18Z")
since man can be defind as a type of animal, and th uk is not free of murder. then humans are most dangerous animal over there in the uk. ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375/46 "2003-07-06T11:15:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by county \* > \*\*Well, I think clarification is in order, in or out of the zoo I think bears are the most dangerous wild animals in England. > > Otherwise are we talking about killing humans?, maiming humans?, carrying off children? ??? or just dangerous? > > I’ll stick with bears. (In the zoo) (without further clarification) \*\* I think elephants kill more people than any other kind of animal in zoos in the UK ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375/47 "2003-07-06T11:25:31Z")
Had lunch with my boss (English) and colleague (Irish) a few days ago and the conversation came around to animals, via squirrels and a raccoon invasion of summer cabin tale. “So…you guys don’t have raccoons? Or skunks? Or opposums? Or amadillos? (this last one was a joke, of course) Or elk?” I had fun thinking of animals all day and I’d pop my head in my Irish friend’s cubicle and shout “Groundhogs!” “Chipmunks!” etc. Seems pretty much the only thing you can road-kill over there are hedgehogs. And when I motioned a varmint the size of a porcupine, the English lady laughed and showed me something half the size of her plate. Huh. Serious lack of critters over there. ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375/48 "2003-07-06T11:29:27Z")
We do have elk in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375/49 "2003-07-06T11:53:24Z")
OK; now that I think about it, I probably asked about moose. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375/50 "2003-07-06T12:02:43Z")
The most dangerous creature (occassionally) found in England is Spike Milligan. A fiendish beasty, he has left a trail of people who have died of hysterical laughter behind him for decades. His only known benefit to the world was his role in Adolf Hitler’s downfall. Adolf Hitler’s only known benefit to the world was his role in Spike Milligan’s downfall. He has been known to associate with goons. (Milligan, I mean. Not Hitler. Goons are funny, after all. Nothing funny about Hitler. Nossiree. Won’t catch me refering to Shicklegruber in any of _my_ jokes. Nope. Not a Chance. Not me, bub.) ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375/51 "2003-07-06T12:11:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MC Master of Ceremonies \* > \*\*We do have elk in the UK. \*\* Where? As far as I am aware, the species of wild deer in the UK are Red, Fallow, Roe and the funny little one whose name I can’t remember, but came from an escaped foreign species. ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375/52 "2003-07-06T12:19:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jojo \* > \*\* Other than that, I once met a rabbit that gave me a funny look. > > I don’t think there are any ticks or other nasty insects in English woods and I don’t think there are any biting spiders. \*\* OMG - re the rabbit - I once saw one of those, too. Think the country should be put on Red Alert?? 😃 There _are_ ticks over here … dunno about in woodland, but I was forever pulling ticks out of our Border Collie after long rambles in the countryside. Not sure if they carry disease (Lymes?) as they do in the US, though. And I’ve seen a large house spider hang onto a friend’s finger with its fangs when he tried to put it out the window … :eek: Julie ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375/53 "2003-07-06T12:20:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by amarone \* > \*\*Where? As far as I am aware, the species of wild deer in the UK are Red, Fallow, Roe and the funny little one whose name I can’t remember, but came from an escaped foreign species. \*\* Remembered it: Muntjac. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375/54 "2003-07-06T12:27:33Z")
And a very few Pere David’s deer, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375/55 "2003-07-06T12:31:46Z")
[hijack] Why Eburacum, not Eboracum? Google finds hits for them both, but three times as many for Eboracum. (Selby, myself)[/hijack]. ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375/56 "2003-07-06T12:33:22Z")
Actually yopu’re right no elk in Britain, though I’m sure I read there were the other day. ---
**Author:** ![fierra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58956e/32.png) [@fierra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fierra)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375/57 "2003-07-06T15:16:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shrinking Violet \* > \*\*There _are_ ticks over here … dunno about in woodland, but I was forever pulling ticks out of our Border Collie after long rambles in the countryside. Not sure if they carry disease (Lymes?) as they do in the US, though. > > And I’ve seen a large house spider hang onto a friend’s finger with its fangs when he tried to put it out the window … :eek: > > Julie \*\* I agree with you about the ticks - I’ve had dogs get ticks from walks too. They don’t seem as common as in the US, and they’re larger than some of the US ones, which makes them easier to find. I also don’t believe they carry Lymes disease in the UK. Likewise, I agree with you about the spiders. We don’t officially have any non-pet poisonous spiders living in the UK (where poisonous is defined as capable of doing serious damage to, or killing, a human), but the spiders definitely bite. I got bitten on the ankle by one that was hiding in my bed & it caused a strange yellowish blister about 3/4" across that lasted for about 2-3 weeks, and left discoloured skin there for about a year. Also we do get some quite large spidrs - some of the ones that would come in my house were about 4" across, including the legs, and fast little buggers. Fortunately, I’d usually only see ones that big about 3 or 4 times a year, maximum. So far, I haven’t seen any that big in the MidWest (& I hope it stays that way ;)). This link (no pictures for the squeamish) talks about the Wasp Spiders now living in Kent and mentions scorpions now resident & breeding successfully due to the midler winters: [http://www.arachnophiliac.com/burrow/news/beauty\_and\_the\_beasties.htm](http://www.arachnophiliac.com/burrow/news/beauty_and_the_beasties.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375/58 "2003-07-06T15:29:24Z")
[Pictures for the squeamish!!](http://www.loven.plus.com/nicksspiders/argiopebruennichi.htm) Seriously, the “Wasp Spider” is a pretty ordinary looking orb-weaving spider. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375/59 "2003-07-06T16:22:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MC Master of Ceremonies \* > \*\*Actually yopu’re right no elk in Britain, though I’m sure I read there were the other day. \*\* It could be a confusion in popular terminology which exists for members of the deer family in Europe as opposed to North America. You will also sometimes see statements like “The elk is the largest member of the deer family.”. Whereupon everybody in North America says “hey, what about the moose?”. The trouble is that Alces alces lives in both Europe and North America. In Europe, it is sometimes called an “elk”, a term used in North America for a different animal, less confusingly called the wapiti. Alces alces under both names: [http://www.ultimateungulate.com/moose.html](http://www.ultimateungulate.com/moose.html) Now, that danged North American elk, er, wapiti. This is Cervus elaphus, which is also the species for the European “red deer”, though the European and North American populations are usually given different subspecies names: [http://www.wilddeer.co.uk/red-deer.htm](http://www.wilddeer.co.uk/red-deer.htm) So, it is possible that you read a statement that there were “elk” in Britain, meaning what a North American would call an elk, and somebody in the UK would call a “red deer”. You will note that **amarone** listed “red” among the species in Britain when correcting you. There are no “elk” in Britain if you mean “moose”. Then, to top it off, we have Rangifer tarandus - the caribou. Europeans insist on calling the critter a “reindeer”, leading to confusion when you see statements like “The {reindeer|caribou} is the only member of the deer family in which the females normally have antlers.” ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375/60 "2003-07-06T16:52:25Z")
Aren’t there still wolves in Scotland? Also, bears? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-dangerous-wild-animal-in-england/186375.md?page=4)