Discover the Most Dangerous (Deadliest) Animals in Mississippi

Mississippi is a southern state known for its hospitality, magnolias, namesake river, and catfish (Southern Fried Catfish anyone?). It shares a border to the west with Arkansas and Louisiana and on the east with Alabama. A sliver of its southern border is along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico with a few beaches in Biloxi and Gulfport. The state has wetlands, marshes, prairies, and forests with a wide variety of animals inhabiting the habitats.

If you are catfish fishing, swimming at the beach or hiking in one of the state parks, what kind of dangerous animals should you be aware of in Mississippi? Are there alligators in Mississippi? What about sharks off the coast?

Are there any poisonous and venomous animals? What about a 32-foot tall shark head…sounds dangerous to me…but it is only the entrance to a gift shop in Biloxi, with a similar store having a giant walk-in gator head! Let’s find out about the real dangerous animals in Mississippi.

Catfish are delicious but are they dangerous?

Giant blue catfish are the largest catfish species in Mississippi, and they are giant! Catfish are named for their whisker-like barbels that protrude from their face and chin and they have spines that are around their dorsal fins. Those spines are what make catfish dangerous. Each spine can sting a person sending painful venom into the person. Spines should be removed and the area cleaned and watched for infection. Catfish do not approach people but most stings are from people handling them when fishing. There are many great catfish holes along the Mississippi River, so come prepared with some gloves and a friend or two to help reel in the next record-breaking catfish.

Are there Alligators in Mississippi?

You bet! Lots of them. Most estimates of alligator populations in Mississippi put them at about 32,000 to 38,000 alligators within the state.

Alligators can be found in wetlands, marshes, and rivers and look like innocent logs when they are floating. But when they come out of the water you will see the long scaly body with a long snout full of sharp teeth. Most full-grown American alligators are 10-13 feet long and can weigh up to 1,000lbs.

The largest alligator ever caught in Mississippi was 13 feet long and 697 ½ pounds! You have to see the picture to believe it! The group of hunters said it broke the winch strap and the trolling motor, but they didn’t give up and managed to get it ashore. You have probably figured out that an animal that size with powerful legs and tail and a mouth full of sharp teeth is a dangerous animal.

According to Outsider, in the US there are an average of 7 unprovoked alligator attacks a year that require medical attention. One of those happened in Carthage when a man took a break from his powerline job and went in the brush next to the highway to take a bathroom break. He said he was walking down a bit from the road when something bit him on the back of the leg, he turned quickly to see that it was an alligator! “Before I was struck I did not get a warning growl or anything. I had no warning. I was in pure shock, amazement, and disbelief,” said Christian Roberts. Luckily he only received several puncture wounds on his leg and ankle and was treated and released. Most incidents with alligators occur with alligator hunters or people trying to help an injured one, so unprovoked attacks on people are extremely rare.

Are there dangerous sharks off the coast of Mississippi?

Yes! There are a number of shark species that live in the Gulf of Mexico, like blacktip, bull sharks, hammerheads and blue sharks. With a coastline that is only 44 miles, shark attacks are uncommon off the coast of Mississippi. The records from the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File indicate that were no shark attacks in Mississippi in 2021. When you look at shark attack data worldwide there were only 73 unprovoked shark attacks with 9 fatalities. Of the 47 unprovoked attacks in the US, 28 were in Florida. Looking at the number of beachgoers and these statistics it seems that its highly unlikely to be attacked or killed by a shark.

Are there any poisonous or venomous animals in Mississippi?

Mississippi has the triple “S” of venomous animals, snakes, spiders and scorpions.

• Snakes: There are six venomous snakes in Mississippi. The copperhead, cottonmouth, coral snake, pygmy rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake, and eastern diamondback rattlesnake. Aside from coral snakes, venomous snakes in Mississippi are pit vipers with a pit opening located right below their eye, a sensory unit to help detect prey. Eastern diamondbacks are the largest of Mississippi’s venomous snakes and can grow to be 5 ½ feet long (and sometimes even larger)! Cottonmouths are smaller but more aggressive than other venomous snakes in the state. You know you are in trouble if you see the white interior of the cottonmouth’s mouth. Most snake bites are not fatal with 7,000-8,000 venomous snake bites occurring in the US with only an average of 5 fatalities each year.
• Spiders: The two most venomous spiders in Mississippi are the black widow and the brown recluse. Both have a strong venom but their bites result in different wounds. A black widow is a black spider with a red hourglass marking on its back. The brown recluse is smaller but has long legs that jet out from its body. Both like to mind their own business but if you reach to grab a piece of wood from a woodpile or try to find change under your couch you could startle one and end up with a bite. They are venomous but rarely fatal.
• Scorpions: If you have a spider problem you may want to get a few scorpions, but then you have a different problem. Both of the species of scorpions that can be found in Mississippi are venomous. The two scorpions you can find in the state are the striped bark scorpion and the southern devil scorpion. These scorpions are about an inch and a half and can deliver a painful sting. The southern devil sting is described to feel like a wasp sting and typically doesn’t require medical attention unless an individual is allergic. Stings from a bark scorpion may be more serious and you should seek medical attention if needed especially for young children or older adults. Scorpion bites are painful but rarely fatal.

Summary of the Most Dangerous Animals in Mississippi

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/cturtletrax