I can understand the alligator in Florida, but in Texas, also? And, man’s best friend in Alaska? Strange.

Deadliest animal in every US state revealed, from moose and bears to dogs

Snakes top the list in more states than any other animal, while bears, alligators, sharks and even dogs lead elsewhere

By Bonny Chu
Published August 02, 2026
Fox News


A demographic data platform has released a new report identifying the animals most likely to kill people in each U.S. state.

The 2026 report from World Population Review revealed a surprising mix of creatures topping the list, from large mammals such as moose to unexpected threats such as dogs and jellyfish.

According to the report, snakes make up the single largest category nationwide, with several species of rattlesnakes topping the list in multiple regions.

Georgia residents should be most cautious of the pygmy rattlesnake, while Oklahoma's biggest snake threat is the western pygmy rattlesnake.

Meanwhile, Timber rattlesnakes claimed the top spot in both Connecticut and Kansas.

Southern Pacific rattlesnakes pose the biggest threat in California, while Arizona's deadliest species is the western diamondback rattlesnake.

Other rattlesnakes dominating state hazards include the prairie rattlesnake in North Dakota, the Mojave rattlesnake in Nevada and the eastern massasauga in Michigan.

Several non-rattlesnake species also rank as the deadliest animals in their respective states.

Louisiana's top threat is the eastern diamondback rattlesnake and Mississippi's is the cottonmouth snake.

Similarly, Indiana leads with the eastern copperhead, South Carolina points to the southern copperhead, and Hawaii stands out with the yellow-bellied sea snake as its primary concern.

Beyond reptiles, several states face risks from insects and other venomous creatures.

Wasps top the list in Iowa, ticks take the lead in Missouri, mosquitoes pose the highest danger in New York, and black widow spiders are the main concern in Alabama and Nebraska.

A handful of states should be cautious around coastal waters, according to the report.

Tiger sharks rank as the deadliest animal in Rhode Island, while bull sharks pose the greatest threat in Maryland and Virginia.

A jellyfish-like marine creature, called the Portuguese man o' war, is listed as the biggest danger in Delaware and North Carolina. Experts say that while its sting can be deadly in rare cases, it more commonly causes painful welts and skin irritation.

Alligators also rank as the deadliest animal in Florida and Texas, with the American alligator specifically topping Florida's list.

Large mammals also appear prominently throughout the report, with black bears ranking as the deadliest animals in Tennessee and Wisconsin.

North American black bears pose the greatest threat in Oregon, while American black bears top the list in Kentucky and Massachusetts.

In contrast, New Mexico's deadliest animal is the mountain lion, while moose are listed as the greatest risk in Colorado, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Grizzly bears also top the list in Idaho, Montana and Washington, and bison pose the greatest danger in South Dakota and Wyoming.

Whitetail deer were also identified as the deadliest animals in Arkansas, Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

In Alaska, despite commonly being household pets, dogs are listed as the state's most concerning animal.

Similarly, coyotes rank as the biggest threat in Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey and Utah.

Overall, snakes dominate the threat landscape, topping the list in 14 states, according to the report.

Bears threaten eight states, while deer and other large ungulates account for 10 states.

Canines, including dogs and coyotes, rank as the deadliest animals in five states.

Biting and stinging arthropods, such as wasps, mosquitos and spiders, account for five states.

Equally, marine hazards also account for five states.

California transients should be number one for Arizona...

Humans are the most dangerous animal in all states, I suspect.

^^^^^ Spot on!

quote:

Timber rattlesnakes claimed the top spot in both Connecticut

Wow, didn't know they went that far north

The list.

https://worldpopulationreview....rous-animal-by-state

Mosquitos? Annoying, yes. Deadly? Is there a huge malaria or yellow fever threat we’re not hearing about?

Or are New Yorkers just a bunch of absolute pussies?

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Originally posted by rizzle:
California transients should be number one for Arizona...

Transients or transplants? And to be fair, I’m sure that the CA transplants are a mixed bag. Sure, CA is famous for libtards, but there is also the occasional solid conservatives (even a few SIGforum) that final gave up and escaped CA.

Don't forget the Black Mamba, Fascinating creature, Black Mamba... In Africa, the saying goes 'in the bush, an elephant can kill you, a leopard can kill you, and a black mamba can kill you. But only with the black mamba... is death sure.' Hence its handle—'death incarnate.'"

The amount of venom that can be delivered from a single bite can be gargantuan. You know, I've always liked that word... 'gargantuan'... so rarely have an opportunity to use it in a sentence

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And, man’s best friend in Alaska? Strange

Meth heads (e.g. Matsu Valley) have roving dogs that are large breeds. We had a Sigforumite post about shooting a charging dog. My buddy lives in Matsu Valley and is an avid jogger and he's been chased. Cops told him it was routine.

As a former resident of Alaska, the statistics from my days there were moose were statistically the most dangerous animals. They're tall and dumb (e.g. run from safety into danger) so bumper hits their legs and their very heavy torso hits the passenger compartment collapsing A-pillars. They've also learned that in the winter they can go to the front doors of homes and businesses, push aside the snow, and eat landscaping. You walk out of a house/business and the moose tries to stomp you to death.

quote:

Originally posted by Orguss:
Mosquitos? Annoying, yes. Deadly? Is there a huge malaria or yellow fever threat we’re not hearing about?

Or are New Yorkers just a bunch of absolute pussies?

US: Zika (less than 1% fatality rate), West Nile (~120 deaths/year), Eastern Equine Encephalitis (brain swelling and ~30% fatality rate). New york is a pretty rural state outside of NYC, and hardwood swamps are the breeding ground for the EEE carrying mosquitos and the horse farms are the bellweather as there is a ~90% fataity rate for unvaccinated horses.

Global: malaria, dengue hemorrhagic fever, yellow fever

Alligators are not # 1.

The Florida man is.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Don't forget the Black Mamba, Fascinating creature, Black Mamba... In Africa, the saying goes 'in the bush, an elephant can kill you, a leopard can kill you, and a black mamba can kill you. But only with the black mamba... is death sure.' Hence its handle—'death incarnate.'"

The amount of venom that can be delivered from a single bite can be gargantuan. You know, I've always liked that word... 'gargantuan'... so rarely have an opportunity to use it in a sentence

Yes, but the thread is about US States.

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Mosquitos? Annoying, yes. Deadly? Is there a huge malaria or yellow fever threat we’re not hearing about?

Not now, but these were quite prevalent in the US, especially in the humid Deep South, until the early 20th century.

Missouri is the only state listing the tick as the most likely to kill people.
I do know of one person allegedly killed by organs shutting down following a tick bite.

I would have guessed copperhead bites as they are pretty common.

quote:

Originally posted by frayedends:

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Don't forget the Black Mamba, Fascinating creature, Black Mamba... In Africa, the saying goes 'in the bush, an elephant can kill you, a leopard can kill you, and a black mamba can kill you. But only with the black mamba... is death sure.' Hence its handle—'death incarnate.'"

The amount of venom that can be delivered from a single bite can be gargantuan. You know, I've always liked that word... 'gargantuan'... so rarely have an opportunity to use it in a sentence

Yes, but the thread is about US States.

True, but there may be one that was released in a trailer around Barstow, it killed Bud.

quote:

Originally posted by slosig:

quote:

Originally posted by rizzle:
California transients should be number one for Arizona...

Transients or transplants? And to be fair, I’m sure that the CA transplants are a mixed bag. Sure, CA is famous for libtards, but there is also the occasional solid conservatives (even a few SIGforum) that final gave up and escaped CA.

Sure there are some good people from CA, lately though, the bad ones have been annoying the hell out of me. They need to keep their political views in CA and just go away, it was more of a quick response from me, prolly should have not said it.

Anyway, the counties around here have more deaths and severe injuries from bee stings than rattlesnakes, can't even recall the last snakebite death, but a couple from bees.

We live on a pond (maybe a 20-acre pond.) in our subdivision in Cypress TX and oddly enough, my wife came in from the yard and indicated some of the people walking around the pond said they had seen an alligator in the water.

I'm going to have to keep an eye out for that.

Black bears are the worst in Massachusets?

Almost every other animal that exists in the state is deadlier than that. There has never been a recorded death by a black bear in this state in all recorded history.

quote:

Originally posted by Orguss:
Mosquitos? Annoying, yes. Deadly? Is there a huge malaria or yellow fever threat we’re not hearing about?

Or are New Yorkers just a bunch of absolute pussies?

I would have thought the Mafia.