Be Afraid: Wasps and Dogs Are Deadlier Than Snakes

Though you should still be wary of the snake, the spider and the scorpion, know this: You are more likely to be killed by a bee or a dog. The New York Times reports that of the 1,610 people killed in encounters with animals between 2008 and 2015, 478 were killed by hornets, wasps and bees, and 272 by dogs. A study published in Wilderness & Environmental Medicine gave these numbers, and also said that snakes, spiders and scorpions were responsible for 99 deaths over the eight years. Researchers used a database published by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They found that 72 people annually were killed by “other mammals,” which includes horses, cattle and pigs. Only six people a year died from snakebite, and six after being bitten by a venomous spider. Over the eight-year period, two people were killed by marine animals. However, during that eight year span, 95 children under 10 years old were killed by dogs. According to The Times, the fatality rate from dog attacks on children under age 4 was twice as high as for people over age 65, and four times higher than that of other age groups. More men were killed, with about 72 percent of victims being men, and most were between 35 and 64 years old. The Southeast had the highest number of deaths and the highest death rate while the Northeast had the lowest.