The US is home to many dangerous animals. So lets look at the list of most dangerous animal in every U.S. state so that you can protect yourself from these. Factors that we include are: human fatalities, attacks, and potential for disease transmission.
The definition of “dangerous” can vary, but typically it includes animals that produce a significant risk to human health or life.
Also many incidents occur due to human encroachment into animal habitats or irresponsible behavior near wildlife.
Alabama – Alligators
Alligator via Depositphotos
Alaska – Bears (Grizzly and Polar Bears)
Image via Depositphotos
Arizona – Rattlesnakes
Rattlesnake. Image via Pixabay.
Arkansas – Alligators
Gareth Rasberry, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
California – Mountain Lions
Mountain Lion on Rock. Image created by Chris Weber with Midjounrey.
Colorado – Black Bears
Black bears are excellent climbers and can ascend trees with ease, using their strong claws and agile limbs to reach heights of up to 50 feet.
Image by Aaron Brewer via Pexels
Connecticut – Deer (due to vehicle collisions)
Key Deer. By Photography by User: MrX, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23670389
Donald W DeLoach Jr, CC BY-SA 3.0
Image via Wikimedia
Hawaii – Box Jellyfish
CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=118181163
Idaho – Mountain Lions
The Mountain Lion. Image by Zach Key via Unsplash
Illinois – Deer (due to vehicle collisions)
Image by RyanE via Unsplash
Indiana – Deer (due to vehicle collisions)
Iowa – Deer (due to vehicle collisions)
Strong roe deer, capreolus capreolus, buck with dark antlers on a meadow with wildflowers early in the morning. Alerted wild animal looking to camera with green blurred background and copy space via Depositphotos.
Kansas – Timber Rattlesnake
Timber rattlesnake, Crotalus h. Horridus, lives predominantly in forests
Kentucky – Venomous Snakes
Northern Copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix is a venomous pit viper found in Eastern North America
Louisiana – Alligators
Credit: YouTube / Storyful Viral: Tourist Captures Shark Biting Alligator’s Foot in South Carolina
Maine – Moose
Moose in Velvet in Northern Newfoundland via Depositphotos
Although rare, it is possible to encounter black bears on the Appalachian Trail, so be careful!
Mississippi – Alligators
American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) Anhinga Trail by Hans Stieglitz via Wikimedia
Missouri – Venomous Snakes
Copperhead Snake Bite via Shutterstock
Montana – Bears (Grizzly Bears)
Grizzly bear by asbjhb via depositphotos.com
Nebraska – Venomous Snakes
Timber rattler.
Image via Depositphotos
Nevada – Mountain Lions
Image by Robert Thiemann via Unsplash
New Hampshire – Black Bears
Black bears in Alligator river National Wildlife Refuge. Image by Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons.
New Jersey – White-tailed Deer (due to vehicle collisions)
A beautiful white tailed deer doe standing alert in the woods.
New Mexico – Black Bears and Cougars
Black Bear Cub Scratching its head with its paw. Image by Sung Jin Cho on Unsplash
New York – White-tailed Deer (due to vehicle collisions)
White-tailed deer via Shutterstock
North Carolina – Venomous Snakes
Timber rattlesnake – Crotalus horridus atricaudatus, poisonous, white background
North Dakota – Bison
Image by Lubos Houska via Pixabay
Ohio – White-tailed Deer (due to vehicle collisions)
White Tailed Deer Von USDA photo by Scott Bauer – Image Number: K5437-3.http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/graphics/photos/may01/k5437-3.htm, Gemeinfrei, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=245466
Oklahoma – Venomous Snakes
A venomous Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) snake at Monte Sano State Park in Alabama.
Oregon – Cougar (Mountain Lions)
Portrait of a cougar. Image via depositphots.
Pennsylvania – White-tailed Deer (due to vehicle collisions)
Image via Pixabay
Rhode Island – Deer (due to vehicle collisions)
Baby Deer. Image by Schlag via Depositphotos
South Carolina – Alligators
Alligator mississippiensis (Daudin, 1802), American alligator; Loro Parque, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. By H. Zell via Wikimedia
South Dakota – Bison
Bison during fall in Yellowstone national park. Via Depositphotos
Tennessee – Venomous Snakes
A closeup of a juvinal cottonmouth poses for pictures on a large rock, and keeps a wary eye on his surroundings. Depositphotos
Texas – Snakes (Rattlesnakes and Water Moccasins)
Eastern diamond back rattlesnake is the most venomous snake in the US. Antivenom is produced for this snake. Via Depositphotos
Utah – Mountain Lions
National Park Service
Vermont – Black Bears
Black Bear Growling Depositphotos
Virginia – Venomous Snakes
Timber rattlesnake in Illinois.
Image via Depositphotos
Washington – Cougars (Mountain Lions)
Image representing The Cougars’ Hidden Lineages. Generating using DALLE-E by Linnea for AATG.
West Virginia – Black Bears
Black bear in Yosemite by Chris Weber with MidJourney
Hi there, I'm Jan, the Co-Founder of Animals Around The Globe and one of the two guys who run this site.
As a little kid, I fell in love with nature, wildlife, and animals. Living in the USA, South Africa, Italy, China and Germany gave me the opportunity to discover the world's Wildlife. My favorite animals are Mountain Gorillas, Siberian Tigers, and Great White Sharks.
I'm a certified PADI Open Water Diver, went to Everest Base Camp and Trekked Gorillas in Uganda. I hold a Master of Science in Economics and Finance.
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