Through Hollywood films and media coverage of rare fatal encounters, animals like sharks, snakes, and spiders have gained a reputation as deadly predators. If they feel threatened, some wild animals will attack, but most will flee. As far as attacks go, they are rarely fatal. All of these creatures, no matter how large or small, are known to be vicious killers. However, their death tolls are far lower than you might expect. Listed here are 8 animals that have a bark that is even worse than their bite.
Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid Of These Wild Life Animals
Stingrays
Deaths from the barbs of stingrays are rare, but Steve Irwin’s tragic death in 2006 was an exception. People are more afraid of stingrays now than they were before their high-profile victim and the rise in belief that they are lethal. Even though stingrays are known to cause an average of one to two deaths per year, the truth is they are usually passive creatures that sting if they feel threatened. Toxic venom is found in stingray barbs, but it rarely kills its victims, only inflicting excruciating pain. It is extremely rare for humans to see one of these nocturnal animals in the wild..
Spiders
There is no denying that black widow spiders can be lethal. However, a large number of spiders, including some of the most venomous and frightening-looking ones, do not bite and are unlikely to kill you. An average of seven people die every year in the United States as a result of spider bites. That’s less than the number of deaths caused by ants, bees, and freshwater snails, which are far less feared. Treatment for black widow bites is also possible and rarely fatal; out of 1,866 bites in 2013, no one died.
Alligators
Alligator attacks claimed the lives of 24 people between 1928 and 2009, out of a total of 567 reported incidents. Almost all of them occurred in the Sunshine State. As a result of their preference for smaller prey, alligators pose a lower threat than crocodiles because of their lower appetites.
Bears
A precise estimate of the number of people lions and tigers kill each year is difficult to come by, but it’s always higher than the number of bears killed. Human deaths caused by both lions and tigers can range from 50 to 100, with the majority occurring in Tanzania and India. Only one to three people are killed by brown and black bears each year in their native North American and Canadian habitats.. Some of these animal species are so revolting, they’ll make your hair stand up on end.
Sharks
Most of the nearly 500 species found in the world are not dangerous to humans, and only 12 of them are known to attack. Despite the depiction of sharks as bloodthirsty killers in films like “Jaws,” most sharks eat fish, plants, marine mammals, and other sharks. Approximately six people are killed by sharks each year. When it comes to fatalities, a dog attack or falling vending machine are more likely options.
Mountain lions
Cougars and pumas, which are also known as cougars and pumas, are native to North America and are the subject of many a hiker’s cautionary tales. This is despite the fact that, since 1890, only 25 human deaths caused by mountain lions have been documented. Extreme conditions like sickness or starvation are the most likely causes of an attack. Mountain lions may have killed pets, deer, and livestock, but humans shouldn’t be particularly afraid of them.
Vultures
Birds of prey have a bad reputation because of their tendency to hover around dead or dying animals in the wild and on television. Even though they have large wingspans and sharp talons, these predators prefer to eat prey that is already dead. Vultures are known to seek out injured or dying animals, but they will not harm those animals unless they are forced to do so.
Bats
Vampire bats aren’t particularly dangerous in the grand scheme of things. They prefer the blood of livestock animals, such as cows and horses, to human blood. However, this does not imply that they are completely free of harm.. Humans have been known to be bitten by them, usually because their usual food supply of quadrupeds has decreased, and they can carry rabies in rare cases. Deaths caused by vampire bats, or bats in general, are extremely rare.
