New Poll Reveals Americans’ Most Commonly Feared Animal

What animal is the most commonly feared in America? The results are in, and it’s time to announce the scariest animal in the United States. This slithering creature has been giving people nightmares for millions of years. However, its monstrous reputation might be a big misunderstanding! Read on to discover America’s most commonly feared animal!

What Animal Are Most Americans Afraid Of?

Not only are snakes America’s most commonly feared animals, but snakes are also Americans’ most common fear, period! Heights take second place, and creepy crawly spiders are third.

Why are so many people afraid of snakes? There are a few different theories. Certain individuals might have a natural predisposition to snake phobias. Their brain’s wiring causes them to see snakes as a threat, and this natural phobia may have given their ancestors an evolutionary advantage.

Another theory is that misinformation causes a fear of snakes. Some people hate snakes because they see them as inherently dangerous to humans. But the truth is that snakes almost always prefer to stay away from people, and they play an important role in the ecosystem. These expert hunters do a great job of controlling rodent populations worldwide!

Snakes Commonly Fear Humans

Americans might be afraid of snakes, but snakes are certainly afraid of people! Even aggressive snakes would rather avoid humans than interact with them. For instance, the cottonmouth has a reputation for being aggressive and chasing people. However, its behavior is misinterpreted. Cottonmouths don’t chase people. When these water snakes encounter a person, they seek safety. If the safest place is behind an individual, they may lunge toward this unsuspecting human. It can appear as if cottonmouths are attacking, but they’re just trying to take cover.

Deadly Python Attacks Worldwide

Snakes don’t normally hunt humans. However, there are bizarre situations where large hungry snakes target small children as prey. Often the offenders are pythons. There are multiple accounts of giant pythons attacking young children.

In Australia, one python dragged a five-year-old boy into a swimming pool! Thankfully the boy’s grandfather was nearby and saved the day. Unfortunately, the stories don’t always have happy endings. In Canada, a 100-pound python was blamed for the strangling deaths of two young boys.

How Likely is it You’ll Get Bit by a Venomous Snake?

Being bitten by a venomous snake is another commonly feared situation. However, the chances of this nightmare becoming a reality are low.

Though 7,000 to 8,000 venomous snake bites occur annually throughout the United States, only around five are fatal. However, if it weren’t for immediate medical care, there would be more fatalities.

The state you live in also determines how likely it is a snake will bite you. Some states have high snake populations, with almost every single state having at least one venomous snake. The only exceptions are Maine, Hawaii, Alaska, and Rhode Island.

Stay Safe

When hiking in an area with a lot of snakes, be extra vigilant. Keep an eye out for snakes in the brush and avoid stepping on them. And remember, snakes usually avoid people and only bite if they sense a threat.

What is the Deadliest Snake Worldwide?

What snake kills the most people? The saw-scaled viper is one of the deadliest snakes worldwide. This viper terrorizes India’s Thar Desert Region of Rajasthan and may be responsible for more fatalities than all other human snake bites combined. Even though the snake’s venom isn’t as potent as that of other species, they have a highly aggressive behavior that leads to deadly situations.

What’s the Most Venomous Snake in the United States?

The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the most venomous species in North America. Left untreated, a bite from one of these snakes has a fatality rate of 10 to 20%. Thankfully, the chances of being bitten are low.

Diamondbacks are only aggressive when they feel threatened. These snakes attack out of self-defense, not because they seek out humans. For instance, sometimes bites occur when someone tries to capture one of these snakes or kill it for sport.

When an eastern diamondback rattlesnake decides to strike, there’s no escaping. They can accurately strike from as far away as 1/3 of their body length!

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