Humans aren’t the only aggressive creature on this planet. Although wildlife attacks are relatively rare, they do happen. As humans continue to impcroach on their natural habitat, the number of conflicts between humans & wildlife are on the rise. Then there are those creatures we bring into our homes, which can also pose a danger. Here’s how the statistics add up:

Snake Bite Statistics

1. Every year the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention logs 6,000-7,000 reports of snakebites in the U.S., but only around 5 of these are fatal, usually when a person is bitten far away from medical care or suffers an allergic reaction.

2. Rattlesnakes bite around 1,300-1,400 people a year in the U.S.

3. Worldwide, there around 2.7 million venomous snakebites each year resulting in between 80,000 to 138,000 deaths. Around 3 times that number suffer life-changing disabilities such as amputation of a limb. (Wilcox, 2020) Actual numbers are likely higher, since reporting is a problem in those areas of the planet where snakebites are the biggest concern.

Bear Attack Facts & Statistics

1. There are approximately 600,000 black bears in North America, but only 28 reported human deaths from black bears in all of reported history.
2. Just 8% of those who try to ward away a grizzly bear using bear spray will be injured or killed vs. 50% of those who try to defend themselves with a gun. (Outside, March 2012, p. 37)

 

More than just statistics

Little girl mauled to death by family dog
As is almost always the case in dog maulings, the attack caught everyone by surprise, especially her parents. They said that the dog had never shown any …

Chihuahua saves toddler from a ratlesnake
It ain’t the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog. … As for the dog Zoey, she was taken to a veterinarian center for

References

1. Michael Tennesen, ‘~Snakebit,”‘Scientific American, Vol. 300(4):27-29, April 2009 2. American Association of Poison Control Centers