Texas leads U.S. in most fatal animal attacks

More than 500 people in Texas were killed by animals between 1999 and 2019, making it the state with the most such deaths, according to an online resource for outdoor activity.

A report by Outforia.com says 520 people died during that span, by far the most in the United States. California reported the second-most deaths attributed to animals with 299.

The website, which acts as a curated guide for outdoor activity such as camping, said it used data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to come up with the report that was released in August.

Only three states — Rhode Island, Delaware and North Dakota — did not report any deaths from animals during the 20-year timeframe.

In Texas, dogs, mountain lions and snakes were some of the animals that have caused human deaths over the last two decades. Although the report did not specify which animals caused the most deaths in Texas, 201 of them were by mammals that either bit or struck the person.

Since 1970, sharks and snakes have been attributed to 57 deaths each. The vast majority of snake bites were from rattlesnakes, the report said. Alligators were blamed for killing 33 people since 1970.

In the last 50 years, brown bears were involved in 70 fatalities in the northern U.S. and Canada, according to the report.

Before visiting an outdoor destination like a state or national park, you should become familiar with the animals that frequent the area, said Carl Borg, the editor for Outforia. It will help to know whether to stay calm or fight back if you come across these animals, he said.

Earlier this year, the Texas Poison Center Network said it has seen a noticeable uptick in rattlesnake bites in 2021. The Dallas Morning News reported that the agency had seen 15 percent more calls about rattlesnake bites through June 30, compared with the same period in 2020.

There were 86 rattlesnake bites reported, compared with 75 in the first half of 2020 and 71 during the same span in 2019, the Morning News said. This only included cases reported to the poison control center. Not all hospitals report snakebites.

KWTX, a TV station in Waco, reported that officials in the Texas Panhandle had seen a more than 10 percent increase in rattlesnake bites.

Borg said someone who is bitten should remain calm to help slow the venom from spreading.

Brown and black bears are a common danger on many hiking trails in North America.

“If you happen upon a brown bear … very slowly and calmly reach for your bear spray while remaining as still as possible, making every effort not to startle the animal,” the report said. Speak to the brown bear in a quiet, calm, and reassuring voice, and if the bear starts toward you, use the spray.

You have a slightly better chance of avoiding serious injury or death with a black bear, the report said. Black bears are smaller than brown bears and, despite their name, come in a variety of colors. “If you encounter one, you should make yourself as big as possible, raise your arms above your head and make a lot of noise” the report said, noting that it not a foolproof tactic.

Find the full report at outforia.com/animal-attacks.