What are Oregon's killer animals and insects? (Eugene, Bend: 2013, home)

[VermillionPearlGirl]

So while your chance of being killed by a wild animal in America is infinitesimally small, I'm just curious -- what do you have up there?

Here in southern California, we have bears, mountain lions and rattlesnakes to worry about in our forests. From looking it up, it seems like there are also rattlesnakes in Oregon, although seemingly not quite so many. Do you have any of the big mammals in your forests as well?

Also, how about ticks and mosquitoes?

Just curious

[crisw]

"What are Oregon's killer animals?"

Humans. Just ask our cougars, black bears and wolves...

[hamellr]

Mostly cars. They've become a real menace to society and really need to be rounded up and sent back to their original home range in Detroit.

Seriously though, there are Western Rattlesnakes east of the Cascade mountains but I haven't heard of anyone dying from a bite in years. They have been seen west of the Cascades once or twice but those were major anomalies. When I was a kid we used to see them more often sunning themselves on roads where they would occasionally attack cars. One of the grossest sights I've ever seen is an rattlesnake who's teeth go stuck in a tire while the car was going 50+mph.

There are black bears in the Cascades and all the way down into natural areas within a few miles of human habitation. They tend to avoid humans right now though, usually trying to get to trash and food left out. They're a pest around Crater Lake area, and in some places along the Sandy River.

Mountain Lions are the worse though, they are more likely to attack humans and are quickly captured and re-homed or killed. Again, no one has been killed by one that I've heard of in ages.

Coyotes are a menace to pets, and will live right in the cities. West Seattle is having a major problem with them right now. I saw one running across I-205 a couple of weeks ago up near Rocky Butte. But they tend to be scared away by humans.

We have a couple of Wolf Packs now, but those are in North Eastern Oregon well away from human habitation. They're mostly a menace to sheep and other small livestock.

Ticks are a problem, there have been a couple of deaths here and there from them, but they're a bigger problem for pets.

Mosquitoes exist, but are rarely a problem. We don't tend to have a lot of stagnant bodies of water on the West side of the Cascades for them to exist. On the East side in Central Oregon they are a huge problem. Paisely Oregon has their annual Mosquito Festival to raise money to spray the lake.

Hobo Spiders, Western Black Widow, and Yellow Sac spiders exist. Again all low threats. You can read more about them on Oregon's website.

If you're out in the woods anymore, your biggest potential problems are Mushroom hunters protecting their "territory." And occasional Marijuana farmers protecting their fields.

The only other potential issue I can think of off hand is the Seeahtik Indians. Again, they haven't attacked anyone in years, but have certainly given a fright or two.

[Steve Pickering]

Some of our Cities like Florence and Coos Bay/North Bend have cougars and bears right in town. Living there. And you would be surprised how dangerous an elk can be. They live right in several of the cities also.

[Steve Pickering]

Eugene and other cities have had infestations of Black Widow Spiders.

[VermillionPearlGirl]

Yeah, despite my alarmist subject title, I'm not actually concerned about dying You are way more likely to die driving to a hiking trail than hiking on the trail. I was just curious.

Thanks to hamellr in particular for the thorough run down! (I forgot about spiders... )

And marijuana farmers with machine guns is definitely an occasionally probably here in the forests of Southern California. Scary stuff.

[Steve Pickering]

Originally Posted by VermillionPearlGirl

... ...

And marijuana farmers with machine guns is definitely an occasionally probably here in the forests of Southern California. Scary stuff.

All too often and getting more so.

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Originally Posted by VermillionPearlGirl

So while your chance of being killed by a wild animal in America is infinitesimally small, I'm just curious -- what do you have up there?

Here in southern California, we have bears, mountain lions and rattlesnakes to worry about in our forests. From looking it up, it seems like there are also rattlesnakes in Oregon, although seemingly not quite so many. Do you have any of the big mammals in your forests as well?

Also, how about ticks and mosquitoes?

Just curious

The biggest worries would be from Californians.

[VermillionPearlGirl]

Haha. Touche

[Steve Pickering]

Originally Posted by BLAZER PROPHET

The biggest worries would be from Californians.

More truth then jest. The gangs are made up of California transplanted youth who seem to be the predominate leaders and starters of the miscreant side of Oregon's population. Also a substantial percentage of our prison population are from California.