Discover The 4 Most Dangerous Animals Swimming In North Carolina’s Lakes And Rivers

When the sun is shining and it’s time to cool off, most think of fun in or on the water. However, where there’s wildlife, there’s potential danger. Discover the four most dangerous animals swimming in North Carolina’s lakes and rivers!

1. Alligator

Scientific name: Alligator mississippiensis

Alligators live in 10 states throughout the U.S. and North Carolina is one of them. Don’t let the size of these solitary creatures fool you — they’re swift! They hang out around swamplands and marshes and can weigh as much as 800 pounds. They live long lives as well, with some gators making it to their fifties. Alligators are sneaky and lurk underwater, looking for opportunities to snatch up prey. This might be a pet that gets too close to the water’s edge, and it could also be a human if the gator is hungry.  

2. Cottonmouth

Scientific name: Agkistrodon piscivorus

Cottonmouths, also known as water moccasins, are deadly venomous snakes best admired from a very safe distance. When a cottonmouth is in full defense mode, its mouth agape, you can see the white color inside its mouth. That’s how they got their common name! These snakes have wide heads, noticeably wider than their necks, and the patterning on their bodies is both brown and olive-colored.

Pets and humans should avoid walking in areas with tall grasses around water, as a bite from a cottonmouth causes severe pain, swelling, and requires anti-venom right away to prevent severe tissue damage and death.

3. Nutria

Scientific name: Myocastor coypus

Nutrias, also known as coypus, are large rodents with distinctive orange teeth. This is an invasive species in North America that wreaks havoc on vegetation, sometimes destroying entire habitats. These semi-aquatic animals carry a variety of diseases as well, which makes them a danger not just to humans, but also to pets and even livestock.

4. American Mink

Scientific name: Neovison vison

The semi-aquatic American mink makes up part of the weasel family. These animals have long, slender bodies perfectly suited for entering burrows so they can prey on different small mammals. They also eat insects, crabs, birds, and bird eggs. Although they may appear cute to some, they are aggressive and like to hunt and eat meat. If you spot one, keep moving!

Non-Dangerous Animals In North Carolina

A variety of other, non-dangerous animal species live throughout the state including muskrats, North American river otters, salamanders, mute swans, tundra swans, and Canada geese. Fish species include the redeye bass, sauger, white crappie, catfish, brook trout, spotted bass, chain pickerel, channel catfish, and striped bass, among others.

Summary Of The 4 Most Dangerous Animals In North Carolina’s Lakes And Rivers:

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Sonja Guijarro/Shutterstock.com