Watch Out! Here Are The Most Dangerous Animals In Wisconsin

Similar to Minnesota, Wisconsin has a vast landscape of plains, farmland, and forests. The Dairy State is also home to some dangerous animals.

Dangerous animals come in all shapes and sizes, and some could even sneak into the house. Don't get me wrong, the Badger state is absolutely beautiful, and it's a vacation destination for a lot of people.

The state animal is the American Badger, which can be very dangerous if it feels threatened. However, it did not make the list due to it being the official animal of Wisconsin.

We'll go through a list of dangerous animals in the state and where to spot them:

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The Most Dangerous Animals In Wisconsin

Ticks

On a list of things I wish didn't exist, these little guys would top it off. Of course, there are over a dozen species of ticks and they can be found in every county. The most common are deer ticks and wood ticks. What makes these little things dangerous, they could transmit several different chronic and life-threatening diseases like Lyme Disease. Peek tick season in the state is May-August.

Mosquitos

If we were to continue making a list of things I wish didn't exist, these guys would be next.  Besides leaving irritating red bumps , these little blood suckers can also transmit fatal diseases such as the West Nile virus, and malaria.

Cougars

No, I'm not talking about older ladies. These big cats are one of three native to Wisconsin, next to bobcats and Canadian Lynx. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources even has a map of cougar sightings. It is highly recommended that if you come across the largest wildcat in North America, slowly back away, but don't you dare take your eyes off it.

Spiders

There are several eight-legged creatures that are not friends in the Dairy State. The spiders to be aware of are: Brown Recluse, Black Widow, and Orb-Weavers. It's very rare for poisonous spiders to be spotted in the state, but it's still important to be on the lookout. The Brown Recluse has been found in both northern and southern parts of the state.

Snakes

Speaking of poisonous things to watch out for, there are also two snakes to be on the lookout for in Wisconsin. There are over 21 different species of snakes in the state, and three of the species are venomous. The Eastern Hognose Snake (otherwise known as the Spreading Adder), the Timber Rattlesnake, and the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake are the ones to watch for. They are mostly spotted in southern Wisconsin.

Deer

Just like across the border in Minnesota, the enchanting white-tailed deer cause a lot of car accidents in the state. I never said the entire list contained all poisonousness, aggressive, and fierce animals. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, there were over 1.6 million deer in the state in 2020 and it was reported that over the last 5 years, 19,000 deer have been killed in car accidents per year. Always keep your head on a swivel when driving.

Bears

No list of dangerous animals would be complete without having the state's top predator, bears. The state is home to an estimated 24,000 bears, and while bear attacks are rare, they do happen. Fun fact, most bear attacks happen when dogs run into bears, and then the human steps in to protect their fur baby.

Gray Wolves

According to Wisconsin's DNR, wolves are federally protected as they are on the endangered list.  However, the wolf population in Wisconsin is healthy. Wolves aren't typically aggressive towards humans, but it is safer to keep your distance. Just like bears, there have been incidents where wolves have attacked dogs.

Assassin Bugs

Watch out for these bugs. There are two different types of predators, one terrestrial, and one aquatic. They are known for attacking and killing their prey by stabbing it to death. They typically prey on ants, however, they sometimes attack humans when feeling threatened. The Masked Hunter, which is a species of Assassin Bugs are most commonly found in Wisconsin and indoors.

People

The Bloodhound Gang said it best when they reminded people with their 1999 hit 'The Bad Touch', that people are nothing but mammals. People are definitely animals and according to the Journal Sentinel, there were 224 homicides in 2022 in Milwaukee alone. Therefore, I think people should make this list.