As much as the wild outdoors can be intriguing and equally suitable for the soul, our surroundings harbor some of the most dangerous creatures known to man. In today’s world, the idea of leaving the house after being away at work or school is almost unheard of. Everyone wants to rush home, cuddle on the couch with their phone, and start scrolling. While many wellness experts advise a walk through the woods or a quick run on the local trail to clear and rejuvenate your being, even they know that the outside world can be unsafe.
From wolves, bears, and mountain lions that can take you out with one swipe of their claws to vipers and scorpions that you only see when it’s too late, there seems to be no end to this terror. One of the few reliefs to this reality is that these creatures populate different corners of the country. That means a polar bear won’t jump you while you’re trekking across the Chihuahuan Desert. A rattlesnake or copperhead might, though. In that respect, here are a few states with the deadliest wildlife.
Florida
Florida is as wild as they come, with the occasional Florida Man appearing every now and then with a feat to put his last accomplishment to shame. But its wildlife might be more unpredicatable, especially the alligator.
Florida has the longest coastline in America, which has blessed it with one of the world’s most talked about national parks—the Everglade. This beautiful stretch of land is the home of many creatures, one of which is one of nature’s best killing machines.
With 75 jagged teeth that can crush bone and an appearance that has remained the same for over 200 million years, the Floridan alligator has terrorized the human populace for years. Although attacks are rare, as Floridians know how to coexist with these animals and the gators do not specifically look at humans as food, conflicts erupt across the park because of increased contact with people.
Texas
Texas is large. We all know that. All this land is home to diverse biomes, which means an almost endless number of organisms calling it home. This state has an impressive array of animals, from armadillos, beavers, and brown bats to bobcats, coyotes, and feral dogs. But among this catalog is the rattlesnake, a viper that can ruin your day in the blink of an eye.
The Texas terrain is as tough and wild as they come, and such a nightmarish landscape spits out an equally nightmarish snake: the Western Diamondback. The snake can control the amount of venom it injects into its victim, ensuring its victim is properly dosed before it devours them. The bite can be fatal to humans as it kills red blood cells (which aid in oxygen circulation across your body) and causes tissue damage.
Arizona
Arizona is best known for its desert climate and the beautiful Grand Canyon. But those who are well versed with the state also know it has some of the most lethal venomous creatures in the country. Luckily enough, only a few of these species carry venom that is strong enough to put a human down.
Among these is the black widow, a rarely aggressive spider that can do some real damage when mishandled or provoked. The black widow’s venom is classified as a neurotoxin as it fries the nervous system and can result in chest pains and respiratory distress.
California
California is home to some of the most prosperous cities in the world. While many may know it for its unmatched innovation in almost every aspect of human life, some might know it for its wildlife. California has some of the lushest forestland in the country, which makes it a prime habitat for the mountain lion.
Mountain lions are solitary predators. They prefer to remain unseen by the human eye and try to limit contact as much as possible—however, recent reports all over the state hint at increased encounters between these powerhouses and humans.
Alaska
Alaska is massive—two times the size of Texas. It is covered in 28,000 square miles of glacial ice and peppered with more than three million lakes. Such a vast land is home to some of the deadliest animals in the world.
The bear comes high on this state’s list of most dangerous creatures. But Alaska has more than predators for you to fear. There are prey, too, namely the moose, which can weigh as much as 1,600 pounds and send you to the hospital if you’re reckless.
Moose attacks are more widespread than bear ones in Alaska, despite moose not being aggressive unless provoked. Researchers have attributed this to moose being more numerous, thus increasing their frequency of running into humans.
