12 Dangerous Animals in Florida. Let’s Explore

The Most Dangerous Animals on the Florida Land

Florida is home to some of the most incredible animal species. Its diverse landscape host some extremely dangerous animals ranging from the eastern diamondback rattlesnake to wild boars, eastern coral snakes to feral hogs, and the brown recluse to mountain lions.

Let’s check out some interesting facts related to very dangerous animals found on land in Florida.

The Tale of the Florida Panther

Florida panthers are endangered mammals mainly found in southern Florida. They are a subspecies of the mighty mountain lion and are primarily found in hardwood hammocks, pinelands, and swamp forests of Florida.

Let’s get to the critical part; the question you should be asking is – Are the Florida panthers a threat to humans?

The answer is “Yes”; despite being one of the most endangered mammals, they are a serious risk to humans. They are natural predators and born hunters, which means they can subdue any human within a matter of seconds. In addition, fully-grown panthers can weigh up to 250 pounds, making them one of the giant members of the cat family.

When it comes to fending off their enemies, Florida panthers have fascinating features like sharp teeth, powerful jaws, and a sleek body that endows them with incredible agility. When paired with brute force, this skill set is enough to be safe from any dangers they might face in the forests. Moreover, hunting is a daily task for these natural predators, and these skills allow them to hunt their prey with relative ease. It is not surprising that they can quickly subdue animals twice their size without difficulties.

Another significant characteristic of this, now-endangered, species is they are solitary creatures. They like being on their own and roaming about in silence. In addition, they are nocturnal animals and set out to hunt during the night; this is one of the main reasons you should be aware of them. Be on the lookout if you’re camping in the woods or just visiting the forests after sunset.

One thing that the panthers hate the most is people entering their territory. In such situations, their protective instincts kick in and can lead to an attack from the Florida panther. So, you should remain cautious while exploring the forests in Florida to remain safe from a possible Florida panther attack, as their only natural predators are crocodiles.

How common is a Burmese python in Florida?

The Burmese Python is a giant non-venomous constrictor that forms a part of a significant invasive species in Florida.

Recently, a 5-foot alligator was Found in the Stomach of an 18-Foot Burmese Python. Read: https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/shocking-video-5-foot-alligator-found-inside-burmese-python-in-florida

Burmese pythons are mainly found in the Everglades ecosystem in the southern part of Florida, where these snakes threaten native wildlife.

Florida has been grappling with the threat posed by the Burmese pythons for a long time. They have been constantly capturing the regions belonging to the native species and ultimately killing a significant portion of them. They are also responsible for endangering several species in the Everglades.

They are non-poisonous (don’t have a nasty bite) and do not pose a direct risk to humans. However, they are potentially dangerous snakes that deliver painful bites that may not be life-threatening but leave one with excruciating pain and discomfort.

The Florida Black Bear

This might surprise most people, but yes, the mighty black bears are also present in the Sunshine state. These omnivores can be mainly spotted in Florida’s wetlands and scrublands. However, they do have a history of wandering into human territories. Black bear is the largest land animal found in Florida.

The general public has been asked to be careful of these Florida black bears, or they might cause serious harm! Nonetheless, Florida black bears are shy beings and don’t make a move unless they find human encroachment or if they perceive any danger coming their way. Hence, the probability of a one-to-one encounter with a Florida black bear is relatively low.

Fire Ants: The ones that breathe fire

The tale of these fiery ants is indeed fiery, so be sure to fasten your seatbelts and get ready to know the story of these tiny creatures of the wild. These tiny ants can wreak havoc on several mammals – including endangered species- even though they are much much smaller in size when compared to other animals. They are also called thief ants, ginger ants, or stinging ants.

Most people confuse fire ants with red ants, and why wouldn’t they? Distinguishing a fire ant from a red ant is quite difficult as not all red ants are fire ants, and not all fire ants are red ants. You might need to take a closer look to understand these species’ differences. Fire ants have a twin-segmented pedicel, which makes the ant look like it’s got two bumps on its waist.

First noticed in the early 1930s, these ants occupied about 260 million acres of land across the southeastern United States.

In Florida, these ants are primarily found as two species: Solenopsis Invicta Buren, also known as the red imported fire ant (RIFA), and Solenopsis Geminata, which is the tropical fire ant.

If you ever suffer fire ant bites, the first symptom you might encounter is a sharp, burning sensation in the affected area. This would be followed by itchy welts, much in common with the regular red ants. However, unlike red ants, which aren’t in the least harmful, fire ant stings turn into blisters that might be pervasive or, in some cases, even life-threatening. Therefore, if you are ever at the receiving end of a fire ant sting, seek medical attention immediately.

Spiders

Spiders are creatures that are found almost everywhere. So, no wonder Florida hosts several species of spiders. Unfortunately, the venomous nature of most spiders makes them one of the most dangerous animals in Florida.

Brown recluse spider

The brown recluse is a spider found in Florida with necrotic venom – a trait that makes them one of the most dangerous spiders. The bite of this spider is known to cause necrotic lesions and requires instant medical attention.

They have a non-venomous bite that is harmful but not deadly. However, if you have contact with a recluse spider, you must get it treated as soon as possible.

But, on the brighter side, these spiders are rare and highly localized. Therefore the chance of you encountering a brown recluse spider is pretty less.

Southern black widow spider

This spider species is also one of the scariest spiders occupying the state of Florida. They are found in the west of Tallahassee, in forests, rocks, hollow tree stumps or old and abandoned places.

Southern black widow spiders are the most common poisonous spiders in Florida and the largest among the widow spiders in Florida. They deliver painful stings that can cause excruciating pain and severe discomfort.

If you get bitten by these spiders, you will experience some very rough symptoms. First, you would notice painful swelling around the area where you have been bitten. This would then probably be followed by cramps, muscle spasms, and stomach sickness.

But there’s no reason for panic because these symptoms usually wear out in a few days. Nonetheless, if you notice the symptoms persisting over a couple of days and show no signs of abating, you must seek medical attention quickly.

Pygmy Rattlesnake: A Story to Tell

The dusky pygmy rattlesnake aka Sistrurus miliarius is one of the smallest species of the most common venomous snake family. This species is considered one of the venomous snakes, but their bites aren’t dangerous to your health.

However, in the case of small children and some pets, rattlesnake bites might be more severe and painful because the snake venom gets to them relatively quickly and can have serious consequences. Irresponsible pet owners releasing rattlesnakes in the wild have led to the evolution of this species.

The most common species of snake in Florida is the eastern diamondback rattlesnake.

Also read: Venomous Snakes in Florida

Alligator attacks

The American alligators, referred to as alligators or gators, are a crocodile species inhabiting the Souther-eastern part of the United States, mainly Florida.

They inhabit all 67 counties in Florida and are commonly found in its marshes, swamps, lakes, rivers, and other water bodies.

With a population of more than one million alligators, Florida has managed to keep the attack rate under control, with 442 unprovoked alligator attacks recorded till 2021. Unfortunately, out of these, 26 attacks were fatal. So yes, you need to be wary of these creatures, but they won’t hurt you unless they perceive any danger.

Also read: Are there Crocodiles in Florida?

Wreaking Havoc in Florida Waters

The waters in Florida host some hazardous animals with bewildering names and spine-chilling traits. Most of these animals are pretty dangerous and, in some cases, deadly, so if any of these animals ever attacks you, please seek immediate medical attention.

Bull Sharks in Florida

A bull shark is fierce and, honestly speaking, an extremely deadly animal to roam the waters of Florida. They are a species of requiem sharks, most commonly spotted in warm, shallow, off-shore waters of the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of Florida. They have an average size of about 10-11 feet and an estimated life span of around 30 years. They mature midway through their lives, approximately 14-18 years old.

Bull sharks are the fourth-most commonly found shark species in Southern Florida. One angry shark bite is enough to kill any human because shark bites are highly lethal.

This shark species is solely responsible for the most unprovoked shark attacks in the state. Due to bull shark attacks, Florida is infamous for being the ‘Shark attack capital’. This makes them one of the deadliest animals to swim in Florida waters.

A Tale of Two Sharks: Lemon Sharks v/s Nurse Sharks

Let us examine this exciting comparison of two dangerous Florida animals, the lemon and the nurse sharks. Both are tough competitors in the sea and an essential part of the list of the most dangerous animals in Florida.

Lemon Sharks

The lemon shark is a species classified as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. These sharks derive this name from their yellow (or lemony) colouring, which also helps them camouflage in their natural habitat.

They are often spotted in subtropical waters and are known to use electroreceptors to find their sources of prey, mainly smaller Florida fish. These sharks inhabit the estuarine and closeby waters of Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Talking about their physical characteristics, they usually grow up to 3.4 meters or 11 feet in length and live up to an average age of 25-30.

Is the bite of a lemon shark life-threatening?

Reports have revealed statistics that come as a breather for us humans – there have been ten recorded lemon shark bites (and no shark attacks), none of which have been lethal. Therefore, these sharks pose a minimal threat to humans (phew!).

The True Face of a Nurse Shark

Nurse sharks embody the phrase ‘looks can be deceptive’. They are slow ocean movers and are considered very calm and docile. But bother them a little, and they will show you their true nature – feral and ferocious. These sharks have strong jaws and equally strong teeth (thousands of them!) and can bite you. If they do, this might be harmful as these sharks have a super-powerful grip capable of inflicting consequential injuries. But generally, they are pretty non-aggressive and would swim in the opposite direction if approached.

Nurse Shark – Facts and Figures

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the nurse shark has been categorized globally as vulnerable.

An interesting fact to be noted here is that there have been five confirmed unprovoked bites and 51 confirmed provoked bites by these sharks as of date, according to George Burgess, who is the primary curator of the International Shark Attack File.

Therefore, both of these sharks can attack humans, but they aren’t deadly.

Hammerhead sharks

By now, you must wonder, what’s with all these quirky shark names? Well, most people are with you on this.

The Hammerhead sharks belong to a shark group that has derived its name due to the peculiar and distinguishing shape of their heads. Their front body is flattened and extended horizontally into a form that resembles a ‘hammer’, thus the name.

Are these sharks an endangered species?

In the last decade, hammerheads have been exposed to the continual risk of becoming endangered. Several human activities, especially overfishing, have contributed to their extinction risk. Unless something is done about this issue, these sharks might become extinct in the years to come.

Are Hammerhead sharks a pressing concern?

It is pretty obvious what you all must be thinking right now; the first question that must have popped into your head is – Should we be worried about these sharks?

Like some of the other non-deadly sharks discussed here, a hammerhead shark is a non-lethal shark that rarely attacks humans.

There have been just 16 recorded cases of a hammerhead bite, and none of these has resulted in a fatality.

Yet another thing to be noted in this ‘shark’ discussion is that even though most of these sharks are rarely deadly, you still need to be wary as their bites are extremely painful and, in some cases, also cause a severe allergic reaction.

List of Dangerous Animals in Florida

1	Jellyfish
2	Florida Panther
3	Burmese python
4	Black Bear
5	Fire Ants
6	Brown Recluse Spider
7	Pygmy Rattlesnake
8	Alligators
9	Bull Sharks
10	Lemon Sharks
11	Nurse Sharks
12	Hammerhead sharks

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