The Deadliest Animal on Earth Will Soon Return to Maine

As dramatic as it may sound, yes, this animal, which kills more humans annually than any other, will be returning to our Pine Tree State.

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You might think nothing ever happens here in Maine, but that’s just not true. Sure, we don’t have the big crime numbers or massive crowds like other states, but what we lack in population, we more than makeup for with our land.

Maine has a vast amount of land to explore, and our wildlife is both extensive and uniquely different from that of most other states.

According to the United States Forest Service, as of 2021, Maine is over 80% forested, with an estimated 83% of the state covered by forests. Additionally, when water is excluded from the total area, the percentage of forested land rises to nearly 90%. With an estimated 17,518,847 acres of forest land, it’s no surprise that Maine has a thriving wildlife population.

The animal in question might surprise you. It’s not a traditionally ‘scary’ or ‘dangerous’ one, to say the least.

When you think of dangerous animals, you might picture bears or moose. But it’s neither of those. According to the National Park Service, while moose collisions account for approximately 440 deaths annually, and fewer than one person is killed by black bears each year, neither comes close to being the deadliest animal on Earth.

So, with that established, what is the most dangerous animal in the world, and why is it making its way back to Maine?

Surprisingly—and perhaps underwhelmingly—the deadliest animal on Earth is the mosquito. Mosquitoes are by far the most dangerous creatures in the world, responsible for an average of 725,000 human deaths each year by spreading diseases such as malaria and West Nile virus.

Alright, so, mosquitoes are the deadliest animals in the world. When will they be coming back to Maine?

According to Safe Pro Pest, mosquitoes require temperatures between 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit to survive. That's why they are most active during the summer season, from March to early November.

Additionally, BBC Science estimates that mosquitoes kill nearly twice as many people as humans do each year.

What are your thoughts on mosquitoes? Do you have any remedies for bites? We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to join the conversation by messaging us on the app.