The Most Dangerous Animals To Avoid In California's Wilderness

California is home to many natural environments, including 8,000 named mountains,  three major deserts, and 840 miles of pristine Pacific coastline prime for exploration. So much open space means plenty of areas for wildlife species to roam about. Each of these regions sports a unique ecosystem — in fact, there are 770 native wildlife species in California alone. While most of these animals prove to be non-threatening, there are a few that visitors to the Golden State should be aware of, especially if they plan on venturing into the wilderness. 

While exploring these wide-open spaces can be exciting, it can also be dangerous if you are not aware of who (or what) you may be sharing the area with. Knowing the potential risks of the outdoors and learning how best to avoid confrontation is important when exploring the wilderness. As with most wild animals, they typically try to stay away from us humans — but hey, sometimes you've gotta protect your home and cubs. The following is a list of some of the most dangerous animals in California's wilderness — and what to do if you accidentally find yourself face-to-face with one of them. 

What's the age-old saying? If you hear a rattling sound while in the wild, definitely go and check it out? Wait, that can't be right. Unfortunately for the likes of Indiana Jones (who hates snakes, in case you didn't know), in California alone, rattlesnakes bite approximately 800 people a year, with around two ending in fatality. Even more unfortunate, seven species of rattlesnakes inhabit different regions of California, each venomous and potentially dangerous. Just like humans, rattlesnakes crave sunshine — so the threat is usually prominent beginning in April and tapering around October. 

For best practices on how to avoid rattlesnakes while hiking, the National Park Service has a few suggestions. First, it recommends walking or hiking in areas with clear ground, aka not through brush or areas where you can't see where you're stepping. If you think you hear a rattle, stop what you're doing, stand still, locate the sound, and back away. Even if a snake doesn't have a rattle, it's important to still steer clear, as sometimes these can also be rattlesnakes (either a baby snake or adults whose rattle broke off). The Park Service suggests wearing protective clothing like heavy pants, high socks and boots, and gloves if you plan on hiking across boulders or through brush. Avoid ledges, cracks, and holes, as these are the most common resting areas for rattlesnakes. 

If a bite does happen, the National Park Service recommends trying to keep the victim calm and gently washing the area with soap and water. Keep the area immobile and lower than the heart, and if possible, stay still to avoid spreading the venom. Call emergency services, but if a victim is unable to access care within 30 minutes, a bandage wrapped 2 to 4 inches above the bite may slow the venom. 

Dun dun ... dun dun dun dun ....(read that to the tune of the Jaws theme song). Sharks are one of the most feared creatures in the wild — and unluckily for Californians, over 30 shark species can be found circling the waters. However, none are so feared than the great white — probably because it causes the most injuries. Listen, we're in their territory. If you were just minding your own business and someone came splashing around where you lived, you'd take a bite out of them too ... maybe. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, there have been 221 shark incidents in California since 1950 involving all species of sharks, with at least 193 of them involving great whites. "Of those, 16 were fatal and all of the fatalities likely involved white sharks." The department defines a shark incident as "any documented case where a shark approached and touched a person in the water, or touched a person's surfboard, kayak, paddleboard, etc."

The California department also states that there is only one "guaranteed method" for avoiding a shark interaction: Stay out of the water. However, if you're an avid swimmer, surfer, or just a lover of water, there are a few things you can do to lessen your chances of an encounter. It's important to obey signage wherever you decide to swim — if it says no swimming due to shark activity and you go in anyway ... that's just Darwinism at its finest. Swimmers should also avoid murky waters, and be careful when swimming between sandbars or steep drop-offs. Try to stay within eyesight of a lifeguard, and avoid swimming at dusk and dawn (as these times are more popular for shark sightings). Finally, don't splash around too much or wear shiny jewelry, as these can trick a shark into thinking you're fish food.

Growing up in Southern California, I recall a day in elementary school when a lifeguard came to our class to teach us the "stingray shuffle." As silly as the name is, it is a great method to avoid being stung. Once in ankle-deep water, you shuffle your feet so that if you do come across one, you nudge it (which will cause it to swim away) versus stepping directly on it, causing it to sting. Other variations suggest stomping and shuffling, as the vibrations from the stomps may also scare them away. While not necessarily a deadly threat, according to Chris Lowe, director of Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach (via NBC San Diego), it's estimated that around 10,000 people are stung by stingrays every summer in California. 

The small spines on a stingray's tail contain venom and can cut into skin. The sting will be painful and can cause swelling and even leave a mark. The pain can last hours to weeks depending on treatment. According to Lowe, four common stingray species can be found along the Southern California coast, including "bat, butterfly, and diamond rays," but the most common are the round stingrays, "and they're the ones that injure the most people." They can be found when the water warms up, and when the swell gets low and calm. Recommended treatment is to get to an ER right away, however, a lifeguard may just submerge your foot in 110-degree water, as this is said to deactivate the venom and reduce pain. Although stingrays may deter some people from enjoying the water, if you are stung, just remember through the tears that stingrays are important to our beach ecosystems because, according to Lowe, "they pull so much out of the sediment under the ocean's surface, which helps other specifies grow and live." 

Although the state flag is adorned with a picture of the mighty grizzly, the species actually became extinct in California in the 1920s. The only bear visitors to California may come across is the black bear — which occupies a variety of different habitats across the state. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, "the state's densest and most abundant black bear populations live in the North Coast and Cascade regions, which together are home to about 50% of California's black bears." The black bear population in California is estimated to be between 50,000 to 81,000.

With more and more of California becoming urbanized and extending into wildlife habitats, human-wildlife interactions have and will continue to increase. As with most animals, black bears are fearful of humans and try to avoid them. However, according to the department, black bears are at an" increased risk of becoming food conditioned or habituated due to increased access to non-natural food sources. Some people do not realize the harm in feeding wild animals." There are a few things the department recommends in order to lessen the chance of a bear encounter at your campsite or home. It suggests using bear-proof containers to secure all trash, recycling, and compost, and to clean BBQ grills after each use and securely store them. Remove unsecured trash, food, and strongly scented items from your vehicle or tent, and keep your doors and windows closed and locked when unoccupied. As with most wild animals, do not approach them, stay away from those cute little bear cubs, and make noise if hiking through wooded areas. 

The next animals to look out for are mountain lions (or cougars). No, not the ones on the prowl at your local bar — we mean the ones that stalk you in the wilderness for other, more dangerous reasons. Fun fact: My California university mascot was a cougar, and we even had a day when classes were canceled due to a cougar sighting near campus. Mountain lions inhabit many different types of areas throughout the state, including forests, foothills, and coastal regions. They can be found in both rural and urban areas. Mountain lions are solitary animals and will avoid human confrontation as much as possible — in fact, attacks on humans are rare. Since 1890, there have been less than 50 verified attacks on humans in California, only six of which have been fatal (according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife).

For those who want to hike, bike, or climb in areas that are more populated by these animals, there are precautions you can take. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife does not recommend partaking in activities at dawn, dusk, or nighttime — and to avoid doing any of these activities alone (maybe you can take the local bar cougar on a hike with you). Stay alert on trails and do not let your pets run off-leash. Do not let small children run ahead of you or out of your sight. Never approach a mountain lion, and if you do see one, give them a wide berth to escape. Try your best to stay calm — do not run, crouch down, bend over, or turn your back on the lion. Make loud noises and try to make yourself seem as big as possible. 

Unfortunately for those who grew up watching Looney Tunes, our next animal is not as dumb or silly as the infamous Wile E. Coyote. Coyotes are pack animals that are highly intelligent, social, adaptive, and family-oriented. If you've ever spent a night under the stars in the California desert, you've probably heard their yips and howls. In fact, according to — you guessed it — the California Department of Fish and Wildlife — coyotes have the most diverse vocalization range of any mammal in North America. A fun fact — Native Americans refer to them as "song dogs." Coyotes can be found in desert areas, mountains, and urban regions. Coyotes are opportunistic carnivores, meaning they'll eat pretty much anything: including small cats and dogs. Much like black bears, the most dangerous coyote is the one that becomes habituated to humans, as they act more boldly and will steal food or pets from campsites or backyards. 

Recommended protection against coyotes includes bringing pets inside at night and in the early morning, leashing them while walking, and bringing a whistle or noisemaker to deter coyotes. Like with bears, removing access to trash, recycling, and any food (including pet food) is important to ensure they don't prowl about. If you do encounter a coyote, keep a safe distance, keep small children and pets close to you, make loud noises, make yourself look bigger, and back away from the animal slowly. 

While California is crawling (quite literally) with all sorts of bugs (and arachnids), a few dangerous bugs are more deadly than others. The Arizona bark scorpion can be found in the extreme southeastern part of California, close to the Arizona border (as the name suggests). These types of scorpions possess venom that can cause swelling and pain, and while fatalities are rare, they can occur among children, the elderly, and those who are immunocompromised.

Besides scorpions, there are other small creatures to be wary of, such as brown recluse spiders, wasps, black widows, kissing bugs, and killer bees. Killer bees first made their appearance known to Southern Californians in 1994. These bees have since migrated north, as far up as Sacramento. Killer bees differ from regular honey bees because they are much more aggressive. The average person is estimated to safely tolerate 7 to 10 stings per pound of body weight before it becomes fatal. However, the problem with killer bees is that they attack in numbers far greater than this, making them much more dangerous to humans than the average honey bee. They are also very determined — once they sense a threat to their colony, they will pursue it — and sometimes even wait it out (for example, if you try to submerge under water). If you find yourself amid an angry swarm, it is important to seek shelter in an enclosed location, cover your face and neck if being attacked, or run from them in a zig-zag pattern. 

Since most trips to California involve being outdoors, another creepy crawly you need to look out for is ticks. At least 12 types of ticks live in California, and most of them are known to carry a variety of diseases that affect both people and pets. So do your due diligence when you go out hiking and wear long clothes, tuck your pants into your socks, use insect repellent, and treat clothes with tick-specific pesticides (products that contain permethrin). And make sure when you get home that you thoroughly check your body for any ticks — and don't forget your dog!