These are the Most Dangerous Animals in Kentucky and Indiana

There are several animals that can cause harm to you in Kentucky and Indiana, but you might be surprised when it comes to the most dangerous animals in these states.

Here in Kentucky and Indiana, we have a lot of wildlife. Some are cute and harmless, while others are feared and dangerous. I'm sure that we can think of a few potentially dangerous animals. Snakes, bees, wasps, yellow jackets, ticks, mosquitoes, coyotes, bobcats, and spiders are a few examples of these animals that could cause harm to us in some way. However, some of those cute and seemingly harmless animals could be dangerous too. That's certainly the case regarding Kentucky and Indiana's most dangerous animal.

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Explored Planet took a deep dive and looked at the most menacing creatures in America and came up with The Most Dangerous Animal In Each State. The website used data from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to compile this list. As it turns out, the majority of the most dangerous animals in each state seem relatively harmless...not what you'd expect to see as the most dangerous animal for each state. Case in point, dogs were the most dangerous animal in several states. Granted, I know that dogs can bite, but when you think of dangerous animals, those aren't really what you'd think of first. So let's see if you are surprised by what the most dangerous animal in Indiana and Kentucky is.

The Most Dangerous Animal in Indiana is...

According to Explored Planet, the most dangerous animal in Indiana is one of those cute animals that are deceivingly dangerous. Deer. We here in Indiana have a huge problem with deer. Mainly due to them being responsible for several automobile accidents throughout the state.

Pascal-L-Marius

Explored Planet says:

Not only are many deer struck by vehicles, but those collisions actually can end the lives of humans as well. The CDC found that in just 2016 alone there were over 14,000 “deer-involved car accidents.”

That might not come as much of a surprise to you, but I'd be willing to bet that Kentucky's most dangerous animal will.

The Most Dangerous Animal in Kentucky is...

When you think of all the potentially dangerous animals that there are in Kentucky, you first might think of poisonous snakes. However, that's not what Explored Planet claims is the most dangerous in the Commonwealth. In fact, it is an animal that you probably never would have expected. Cows!

Clara Bastian

I'm not making this up! More specifically, cows and bulls. Explored Planet elaborates:

The CDC reported that most of the causalities caused by these animals are “blunt force trauma” injuries that were usually to the head or chest. This can happen when people go into an enclosed space with them. Also, the most common victims are males over the age of 65.

Now, I was talking with my co-worker about this and she made a valid point. She said that it seems like there are so few animal-caused deaths in Kentucky that somehow the number of old farmers headbutted or attacked by a cow becomes statistically significant. That's the only explanation that I could think of as to why a cow is the most dangerous animal in Kentucky.

Surprised? Yeah, me too. You can take a look at the most dangerous animal in each state and be surprised some more, by clicking here.

Animals You Might Encounter in The Wild in Indiana

There is no shortage of stunning wildlife in Indiana. Here are six species native to the state that you might encounter the next time you head outside.

Kentucky's Nuisance Animals

A couple of these creatures would cross over into the "dangerous" category, but the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife says that these are ALL nuisances, and with good reason.

7 Invasive Insects in Indiana You Should Kill Immediately If You See Them

In an effort to inform the public on the types of invasive species that are known to be found in their state, the USDA offers a "Pest Tracker" on their website, where you simply click the name of your state from the drop-down menu provided to see pictures of the different insects and weeds, along with descriptions of the type of plant life they target and the damage they can do if they're not dealt with.