Hey, guys! It’s Samantha! From a tiny critter that everyone loves to a glowing underwater
cephalopod, here are the cutest animals that can also be dangerous!
12. Koala
This cuddly little creature probably doesn’t seem like a threat at all, does it? Koalas
are arboreal herbivorous marsupials, meaning they live in trees, eat plants, and have a
pouch like a kangaroo. They only grow up to about thirty-three inches in length and weigh
only thirty-three pounds, and the males are about fifty percent larger than the females.
Koalas exclusively eat eucalyptus leaves, which have to be thoroughly chewed and processed
before digestion is complete. Sometimes, this requires the koala to regurgitate its food
back into its mouth for a second chewing… um, ew. This creature isn’t looking so cute
anymore, is it? Well, that’s just the beginning. Not only are koalas nasty eaters, but they
can also be dangerous under the right circumstances. Back in late 2014, a woman named Mary Anne
Foster was walking her two pups in Australia. They saw a koala at the base of a tree and
started walking toward it. The koala lunged out and to try and strike the dogs, but Foster
got in the way. She told the local news, “Obviously the koala felt very threatened because it
attached itself with its mouth, jaws, to my leg and bit very hard, bit very deeply.”
She had to get twelve stitches to close the wound.
11. Prairie Dog
These little critters are burrowing, herbivorous rodents, which they dig underground and eat
plants. There are five species that live in North America’s grasslands, including the
white-tailed, black-tailed, Utah, Gunnison’s, and Mexican. They got the name “prairie
dog” because they have a unique warning call that sounds a lot like a dog barking.
These seemingly cute animals grow between twelve and sixteen inches long and weigh up
to three pounds. But, these tiny guys aren’t as sweet as they look. In 2007, a man named
John Hoogland was studying white-tailed prairie dogs in Colorado. While he was there, he noticed
a female leap onto something, grab it, and shake it around for a few minutes. It turns
out that “thing” was an infant ground squirrel, a rodent much smaller than a prairie
dog; and she had just terminated it. This was the first time he’d seen anything like
that. But, these ferocious prairie dogs are actually quite common. From 2007 to 2012,
Hoogan and his associates recorded over one hundred incidents of this violent behavior.
In some cases, the prairie dogs would wait outside of a ground squirrel’s burrow before
taking it down. Other times, it would stalk its prey like a tiger on the prowl. The reason
for this is most likely to cut down the competition for food in the area. Fewer ground squirrels
equal more food for the prairie dogs and their babies. But, I bet you’ll never look at
one of these fuzzy balls the same way again.
10. Beavers
Beavers are large semi-aquatic rodents that encompass two species, the Eurasian beaver
and the North American beaver. They are known for building dams to protect themselves against
natural predators, including coyotes, bears, and wolves. Plus, these structures help them
to easily access food during the winter months. Beavers build at night and also construct
lodges, which they reside in. They grow up to about three feet long and can weigh as
much as seventy pounds. But, these cute carpenters aren’t exactly the friendliest animals,
and they have very sharp teeth. In 2013, a Belarusian fisherman was driving toward a
lake with his friends near the capital of Minsk. He saw a beaver on the side of the
road and tried to grab him to snap a photo. However, the sizeable rodent struck back and
bit him numerous times. One of the bites sliced through the man’s artery, and he passed
away shortly after.
9. Swans
Oh, the beautiful swan! How could these elegant birds possibly be dangerous? Well, you’re
about to find out. Swans can grow up to sixty inches in length and weigh up to thirty-three
pounds. Their wingspan can reach as much as ten feet long. One incident of a swan being
dangerous happened in 2012 outside of Chicago. A man who tended to the birds was paddling
across the pond, and a swan charged his kayak. It flipped his boat over, and he drowned when
the waterfowl blocked his way to shore. But, swans aren’t only aggressive toward people,
they are also violent with other swans. In 2010, one of these birds residing in a pond
near Pembroke castle in Wales was given the nickname “Hannibal.” He went on a spree
massacring all of the swans around him. He was the culprit behind fifteen swan fatalities
and injured twenty-two more. Hannibal used his wings, beak, and feet to beat the other
animals, often to the point of no return.
8. Pufferfish
You might think that this puffy, semi-adorable looking fish couldn’t pose much of a threat.
But, you’d be wrong. Also known as blowfish, these creatures are highly dangerous. The
fish usually avoids predators via a burst of speed but will become enlarged to present
itself from being eaten. However, things get really nasty when it is ingested. Pufferfish
contain a toxin, called tetrodotoxin, that is generally lethal to other fish. But, it
is even more so to people. It is over a thousand times as poisonous as cyanide. In a single
blowfish, there is enough of it to eliminate thirty adults. Plus, there’s no antidote.
Despite the fact that you could very well meet your maker after consuming one of these
aquatic creatures, pufferfish is still a delicacy in Japan. It is extremely pricey and can only
be prepared by chefs that have a license and have been trained to do so. However, even
though precautions are taken, several fatalities occur every year from a single misstep.
7. Elephants
Elephants are usually charming, calm mammals despite their magnificent size. But, don’t
make the mistake of thinking all of these creatures are like Disney’s loveable Dumbo.
Elephants can be extremely dangerous under the right circumstances. The most threatening
are males that are in musth, a condition caused by a significant rise in testosterone levels.
There is no specific time of the year this takes place, and there could be other factors
involved besides hormones. However, elephants can also become aggressive when they are injured,
sick, or being harassed. So, don’t get yourself into a sticky situation. The sheer size of
these mammals is enough to take anybody down, especially when they decide to charge.
6. Slow Loris
This big-eyed fuzzy critter is nocturnal primate, meaning they have a wet nose, small brain,
great sense of smell, and wonderful night vision. The slow loris has a rounded head
and a little-pointed snout. But, their most prominent feature is their eyes, which is
what makes them so adorable. However, just because these cuties look like living Beanie
Babies doesn’t mean they aren’t dangerous. Slow lorises have glands located on their
inner arms near their elbows. When they are disturbed, they secrete a clear, pungent fluid
that is akin to the allergen found in cat dander, which can result in an allergic reaction.
Their bites can also cause swelling and pain, which is enhanced since they regularly lick
their glands. But, there has only ever been one reported fatality linked to a slow loris
bite, which was most likely caused by anaphylactic shock from an extreme allergic reaction. Slow
lorises are widely accepted as venomous, but there are some that disagree and say they
are classified as poisonous.
5. Dolphins
At this point, you’re probably like, “Come on! First koalas and now this?” But, it’s
the truth. These seemingly friendly aquatic mammals can be threatening in some situations.
First of all, dolphins are notedly one of the most intelligent animals in the world.
They are very social and usually live in groups of up to twelve called “pods.” Some dolphins
are even known to use tools; one such incident was discovered when Pacific bottlenose dolphins
were observed demonstrating how to use tools to their young; they cover their noses with
sponges while foraging for protection. The river dolphins in Brazil will even use sticks
and weeds during a romantic display. However, the danger doesn’t involve trinkets. Males
often become aggressive toward one another over females and other pod members, and the
loser will sometimes be exiled from the group. These creatures are also known to eliminate
their young and hunt porpoises. But, they can also be a threat to humans. One such incident
took place in 1994; a well-known bottlenose dolphin in Brazil took the life of Joao Moreira
and broke the ribs of Joao’s friend, Wilson Pedroso. However, this dolphin had been harassed
on numerous occasions, including someone trying to pour beer down his throat and plug the
blowhole with an ice cream cone.
4. Bears
It shouldn’t surprise anybody that these huge mammals can be really dangerous. They
are carnivors and the polar versions can grow over nine feet long and weigh upwards of one
thousand five hundred pounds. So, don’t confuse these animals with their fuzzy teddy
counterparts. There have been numerous bear encounters with people that didn’t end well.
One such event happened in August 2018. A boy and his family were hiking in Yellowstone
National Park southeast of Old Faithful, and the bear came out of nowhere, charged the
kid, and knocked him down. Luckily his parents were able to ward off the animal with bear
spray, but he still suffered injuries around his rear-end, puncture wounds on his back,
and a damaged wrist. However, sometimes things turn out even worse for victims of bear aggression.
A man named Timothy Treadwell was an environmentalist and bear enthusiast who spent time in Katmai
National Park every summer for thirteen years. He would get up close and personal with the
giants regularly against everyone’s recommendation, and a massive male grizzly mauled he and his
girlfriend during his thirteenth summer at the park. The park rangers took the animal
down while they were trying to retrieve Treadwell and his girlfriend’s bodies and discovered
limbs and fingers inside the bear during the autopsy. They also found a camera that had
been operating in the midst of the awful incident that had recorded Treadwell’s final screams.
Werner Herzog made a film called Grizzly Man, a documentary detailing Treadwell’s work
in Alaska, which released in 2005.
3. Leopard Seal
Oh my gosh! Aren’t these guys cuddly and adorable?! Wrong. Think again everyone, leopard
seals are one of the most aggressive species toward humans. They are also called sea leopards
and are the second largest seal species in the Antarctic. The only other animals they
have to worry about are killer whales and elephant seals. Sea leopards grow up to eleven
and a half feet long and can weigh over one thousand three hundred pounds. Yikes! They
also have gigantic jaws and razor-sharp teeth. Leopard seals present a serious risk to humans
as they come into contact with. Assaults are rare, but you should still stay away from
these animals. In July 2003, a British marine biologist named Kirsty Brown was snorkeling
near the Rothera research station in Antarctica when she was dragged underwater by one of
these massive animals. After she was pulled out of the water, the on-site doctor attempted
to resuscitate her for about an hour. But, it was too late.
2. Blue-Ringed Octopus
There’s no denying that the blue-ringed octopus is absolutely mesmerizing. Their flesh
is a light yellow color patterned with neon blue rings which change hue when the octopus
feels threatened. This creature generally feeds on little animals, including shrimp,
hermit crabs, and other crustaceans. So, it isn’t them eating you that you need to worry
about. Besides, this octopus only grows up to eight inches long. But, if you get bitten
by one of these little octopi, then you’ll know almost immediately. You might not feel
the initial bite. However, the blue-ringed octopus’ venom contains tetrodotoxin, like
a pufferfish, but also encompasses histamine, octopamine, taurine, and dopamine. If you
become envenomated, then you might experience respiratory arrest, nausea, heart failure,
complete paralysis, and blindness. If left untreated for long, then the bite will prove
fatal, most likely due to the paralysis of the person’s respiratory muscles. Unfortunately,
there is no antivenom available.
1. Poison Dart Frog
Number one on our list is the poison dart frog, also known as the poison arrow frog
or dart-poison frog, because it only takes touching one to be in serious trouble. These
amphibians reside in Central and South America. Many dart frogs are very brightly colored.
Despite their brilliant shades, they might still be difficult to spot. These critters
are often less than half an inch long. If you do see one though, then you should refrain
from going near it. Most poison dart frogs secrete toxins through their skin. The most
dangerous species is the Phyllobates terribilis, also called the golden poison frog, which
contains enough toxins to eliminate ten adult men. The poison is called batrachotoxin, which
causes paralysis. It is lethal if it enters the bloodstream. In fact, these creatures
got their name because people used to coat their arrows with the poison.
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