It’s a jungle out there, ya’ll!
Texas tops the list for fatal animal attacks in the United States, according to a recent study which found 1,604 animal-related deaths reported nationwide between 2018 and 2023.
Of that total, 225 of the fatalities occurred in the Lone Star state, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control.
California was second in the nation, with 128 such fatalities between 2018 and 2023.
Florida finished a close third with 112, while Tennessee had 72 deaths, and North Carolina reported 71 fatal animal encounters. New York clocked in with 47.
Stings from hornets, wasps, and bees represented 31% of all animal-related deaths, with the majority happening in the Midwest, researchers said.
More than 28% of fatalities were caused by “other mammals,” which weren’t described.
Dogs were involved in 70, or 26%, of the deaths.
Dog attacks surged following the pandemic, with the study noting “the number of households acquiring dogs increased” during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
More dogs means more bites “occurring at home due to school closures, travel restrictions, and a shift toward working from home,” researchers said.
Less frequent causes included run-ins with venomous arthropods, like scorpions, snakes, spiders and marine animals.
The Southern U.S. had the highest percentage — 46.8% — of animal-related deaths, according to the study.
“While the overall pattern of fatalities has remained relatively stable over time, the post-pandemic increase in fatal dog encounters is concerning and warrants public health attention,” the study suggested, noting attacks in the wild are “rare.”
The study showed animal deaths have been steadily increasing since the 1980s, when there were only 157 animal-related deaths.
