Beware… These Are The 5 Most Dangerous Animals In Wisconsin
Every state has animals that are best to stay away from, but Wisconsin has a solid number of animals that really are dangerous, and best to keep your distance from.
Fun Fact: It is reported that the density of dangerous animals in Wisconsin is among the highest in the nation.
There are a lot of dangers in Wisconsin. First, we will look at animals that may not be on your radar when thinking of "dangerous animals." These three actually cause more deaths in Wisconsin than some of the other more "threatening" animals on this list.
- Ticks - The American dog (a.k.a. wood) tick and the black-legged (a.k.a. deer) tick are commonly found in the Badger State. Tick-related diseases are well documented in Wisconsin. You can learn more about the spreading here.
- White-Tailed Deer - I know this one is weird to see, but by looking at the number of crashes between deer and motor vehicles that result in death, those numbers make deer genuinely dangerous. You can see that study here.
- Mosquitoes - mosquitoes can transmit a myriad of diseases, including the West Nile virus, which, in 2017, caused the deaths of four Wisconsinites.
You can see the full list here. Now let's get to the ones that make the hair on your neck stand up.
The Most Dangerous Animals In Wisconsin
This list is in no particular order, but you can find these predators in different parts of Wisconsin.
- Brown Recluse Spiders - While rare, these guys made headlines in 2018, after reportedly biting a few people in Chippewa Valley. Aside from the brown recluse, Wisconsin is home to only one other venomous spider – the black widow.
- Rattlesnakes - Two species – the timber rattler and the eastern massasauga – are native to the great state of Wisconsin. Though they’re venomous, they’re certainly not the deadliest animal in Wisconsin, but they still make it onto this list.
- Wolves - This is more of just a heads-up that wolves are in Wisconsin. They are rarely aggressive against humans. Keep your distance, and you should be fine.
- Bears - Some of the state’s largest wild predators. Like wolves, bear attacks are rare. Being smart, keeping your distance, and showing respect to nature should again keep you safe.
- Cougar - Today, cougar sightings are a bit more rare, though we have seen more over the last couple of years. If you should you come across one, the DNR suggests slowly backing away from the cougar while simultaneously keeping an eye on it.
Have you ever seen any of these animals before? Let us know on our app!