Most Dangerous Animals in Utah

Much like many other states in the western United States, Utah is an absolute paradise for camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities. While much of Utah has a rugged landscape, with a number of mountains and deserts, one shouldn’t assume the state is lacking in wildlife. The truth is that the Beehive state is jam-packed with all sorts of unique animals, insects, and reptiles.

Unfortunately, many of these animals do not take kindly to humans barging into their territories with camping gear and fishing poles. If you plan on spending some time in the great outdoors of Utah you should do all you can to avoid the following list of dangerous animals at all costs:

#10 Most Dangerous Utah Animal: Gila Monster

This reptile certainly has the most frightening name on this list of dangerous animals. But the infamous Gila Monster is more bark than bite in real life. Sluggish and slow, the Gila Monster is easy to avoid if you spot one in the wild. And they should be easy to spot since they often grow up to two feet in length.

You don’t want to get bitten by a Gila Monster though. Their bite packs quite a wallop of venom, with some victims reporting it as toxic as a rattlesnake strike. Thankfully, there have been no reported deaths due to Gila Monster bites in over 100 years. This doesn’t mean you should act recklessly around one though. The best way to deal with a Gila Monster in the wild is to just back away and find another path. Trust us. No one wants to be the first Gila Monster fatality in a century.

#9 Most Dangerous Utah Animal: Coyote

Coyotes are a pretty common site in the Utah wilderness. While these furry animals may look a lot like their distant cousins, the domesticated dog, the similarities stop there. Coyotes are wild animals which will attack you if you give them the chance. If you encounter a coyote in the wild, the first thing you should do is stay calm. The coyote is likely more nervous than you are. The best tactic is to attempt to scare it away by yelling, waving your arms, and backing away. Whatever you do avoid turning your back on the animal. This might cause it overcome its fears and chase after you. And considering how fast a coyote can run, over 35 mph, you don’t stand a chance in a foot race.

#8 Most Dangerous Utah Animal: Black Bear

Most Utahans are surprised to learn there are thousands of black bears roaming the state. Thankfully, most of these furry beasts are only found deep in the forests or atop one of the state’s many mountains. Utah’s largest predator by a wide margin, you should do all you can to avoid a run-in with a black bear if you’re out hiking or camping.

While a black bear won’t attack humans for dietary reasons, it will charge you if it feels threatened or if its cubs are around. If you do bump into a black bear do not run. Stand your ground and don’t try to play dead or curl into a ball. Just give the bear time and space to flee and you’ll likely walk away with an amazing story to tell your friends and family. If a black bear does, for some odd reason, attack you, be sure to fight like your life depends on it, because it does. If you packed bear spray, now would be the time to use it.

#7 Most Dangerous Utah Animal: Raccoon

Raccoons may look like cute, furry bandits, but do not doubt the ferocity of these animals. Not only do raccoons love to invade urban centers, they will attack humans at the drop of a hat. The odds a raccoon attack can prove deadly are low considering how most raccoons are smaller than most domesticated dogs. They do remain a lethal threat, however, due to how many of them carry the deadly disease rabies. Unfortunately, rabies is often a fatal disease if you have not been vaccinated. Like most animals on this list, it’s best to avoid raccoons altogether. If they find their way into your house or yard, it’s best to hire a professional to remove the raccoon. If you have a close encounter with one it’s best to avoid eye contact and back off from the wild animal.

#6 Most Dangerous Utah Animal: Mosquito

Weighing in at a diminutive 5 milligrams, the mosquito is, without a doubt, the smallest creature on this list. Not to mention the most common. What makes mosquitos so dangerous are the numerous diseases they can transmit to those they bite. These diseases include two forms of encephalitis, St. Louis and Equine, and the West Nile virus. The worst of these three viruses is equine encephalitis since it requires medical attention. Symptoms include vomiting, headache, and a stiff neck. Thankfully, mosquitos are seasonal in Utah, preferring the warmer months to prey on hapless humans outside enjoying the sun.

#5 Most Dangerous Utah Animal: Scorpion

No one who has been stung by a scorpion likely wants to repeat the experience ever again. The reason why is the venom these tiny insects inject packs quite the punch. One scorpion sting can cause excruciating pain, repetitive vomiting, swelling, and numbness all throughout the body.

No one who has felt the sting of a bark scorpion ever wants to repeat the experience again. Indeed, the venom of these tiny insects certainly packs a wallop. Not only does this scorpion’s sting cause overwhelming pain, victims can expect to experience bouts of vomiting, extreme swelling, and numbness throughout their body. Symptoms often last 1 to 3 days and some unlucky sting recipients may even find it hard to breath or even move the affected limb. Sadly, these pesky bugs are all too common in Mexico with up to 100,000 people stung each and every year. The best way to avoid feeling the sting of bark scorpions while you’re out hiking or exploring Mexico’s scenic countryside is to wear the thickest pair of boots you can find.

#4 Most Dangerous Utah Animal: Mountain Lion

Due to habitat loss and horrific trophy hunting practices, there are fewer than 2,000 mountain lions (cougars) remaining in Utah. While mountain lions are a protected species in Utah, their numbers continue to dwindle year after year so the chance you bump into one is pretty low.

If you do, per chance, encounter a mountain lion in the mountains or deserts of Utah, you should not, under any circumstance, attempt to run away. Mountain lions are capable of incredible bursts of speed (up to 50 miles per hour) and are prolific hunters. The best way to stay safe in Utah’s mountain lion territories is to never hike alone, stay close to your group, keep your campsite clean and free of litter, and avoid any area with an animal carcass. You should treat a mountain lion encounter much the same way you would with a bear by keeping eye contact, backing away slowly, and giving the animal time and space to escape your company.

#3 Most Dangerous Utah Animal: Rattlesnake

Like most arid regions, rattlesnakes are rather ubiquitous in Utah. Indeed, our state contains up to five different species of the iconic snake. If you are unlucky enough to be bitten by this noisy reptiles, you should seek out emergency medical care as soon as possible. The venom rattlesnakes produce can cause long-term damage to your brain and to your nervous system. A bite from a rattlesnake is not an injury you should just try to walk off.

Thankfully, rattlesnakes are nocturnal animals who prefer to hide beneath the ground to avoid the blazing sun. Considering how rattlesnakes, too, have a basic form of heat vision, it’s highly likely they will see you in the dark before you see them. And even then, you could probably hear them at night thanks to their characteristic rattle sound. If that doesn’t send you running in the opposite direction, you’re either brave or reckless.

#2 Most Dangerous Utah Animal: Black Widow

Comparable to several other of our previous dangerous animals, the infamous black widow spider has distinctive markings one should keep an eye out for. The blood red hourglass markings on the spider’s back is a clear sign you should avoid these creatures at all costs.

A black widow sting is one of the worst insect bites a person can ever experience. Symptoms include nausea, headaches, vomiting, hallucinations, seizures, muscle spasms, fever, and possibly even shock. Anyone bitten by a black widow should obtain medical care immediately so they can be administered anti-venom for their bite.

#1 Most Dangerous Utah Animal: Moose

You read that right. Bullwinkle the moose is the most dangerous animal in all of Utah. Most people consider these animals to be harmless if not comical due to its wide, blunt antlers. And it’s due to this very reason why Moose are so dangerous. Too many think people mistakenly think they are friendly and approach them with the goal of petting them like they were a worse. Often, these people are in for a rude awakening as Moose are extremely aggressive mammals. With over 3,000 moose in Utah, an encounter with this animal in northern Utah is more likely than you think.

The best way to avoid a painful encounter with a moose is to just avoid them outright. But if you do run into a moose in an Utah forest, you should look out for these signs of aggression: licking their long snouts, their ears pinned back, lowering their head as if to charge. If attacked by a moose you should expect to be struck with their antlers, stomped on, and possibly even sat upon. These massive mammals especially do not like dogs, so maybe leave Fido at home if you’re venturing out into Moose country.