

They often bite things as a way of finding out what they are, and sometimes they attack out of a perceived need for self defense.Ĥ. They don’t see humans as food, but they’re aggressive, territorial, and inquisitive. Most bull shark attacks aren’t fatal, though. Bull sharks are far more common than Great Whites, especially in warm water.īull sharks also tend to live in shallower coastal waters, where people like to swim, and they’re just as comfortable in fresh water as they are in salt water, so they’re commonly found in large rivers and lakes, too. The bull shark, which lives in coastal waters all over the globe, is responsible for more shark attacks worldwide than any other species, even though the Great White Shark is more infamous. Most of the shark species in Florida are harmless and not known to attack people. Almost all of the shark attacks in Florida can be attributed to the bull shark. In fact, New Smyrna Beach is the shark attack capital of the world.

Bull shark image by ume-y via Flickr | CC BY 2.0įlorida has more unprovoked shark attacks than any other state. Mothers with piglets may be especially aggressive.ģ. They have razor sharp tusks and males can weigh more than a person. But these are smart, aggressive, and dangerous animals. You may also like: Wild Animals in Arizona (Examples, Pictures, Facts)įeral hogs are popular with hunters, because there’s no restrictions on when they can be hunted or how many you can kill. In the southern tip of the state they’re often a favorite prey item of the critically endangered Florida panther (see below), but there are only around 100 of those cats left in the wild.

In most places, they have no natural predators. They cause havoc throughout Florida, tearing up the landscape, damaging native plants and posing a threat to the native wildlife. These are not native animals, but are descended from domestic pigs that escaped into the wild. Often mistakenly referred to as wild boars, feral hogs can be found throughout the state. Alligator nests are large mounds of dirt and plant material built near the water’s edge. They’re at their most aggressive when they have nests to protect, and a mother gator is fearless when she’s protecting her young. However, these are still extremely powerful predators that are more than capable of killing a human. Many even routinely swim in alligator infested waters. In fact, natives of states like Florida and Louisiana, which have huge alligator populations, often feel little fear of these predators. Most of their diet consists of fish and small animals, and unlike some of their relatives, they don’t see humans as prey. For all that power, they’re surprisingly non aggressive. They live in every county in Florida, and most likely inhabit every body of fresh water that’s large enough to hold them.Īlligators are big animals, with the strongest bite force of any living creature. While these massive reptiles can be found in all of the Gulf Coast states, their especially common in Florida. When you think about dangerous wildlife in Florida, many people think about the alligator. Here are some examples of the wildlife in Florida that can be dangerous to humans. Florida’s wildlife is diverse, beautiful, and tends to live in close proximity to people. The truth is, wildlife is always closer than we think, and in some places this is more true than others. In the modern world it’s easy to think we’ve distanced ourselves from wildlife. If you planning on visiting South Florida, it’s something you may want to learn about. The state has also had problems with invasive exotic species in the Florida Everglades. Still, there are some species that can be very dangerous, and it’s good to know what they are so you can avoid them. Most wildlife is harmless, and even the species we describe as dangerous, prefer to avoid encounters with people. Let’s have a look! Dangerous wildlife in Florida In this article I’ll show you some examples of dangerous animals in the state of Florida. In some cases, there is dangerous wildlife in Florida that you’d do well to avoid. Florida’s warm, humid climate and proximity to the tropics also means that there are species here that can’t be found anywhere else in the United States. Some of the most iconic species of wildlife in the world can be found here in abundance. With it’s beautiful beaches, coral reefs, world-class fishing, and extensive wetlands, Florida is a haven for wildlife and humanity alike.
