Florida is home to all sorts of wild creatures, including the likes of different kinds of animals, insects and reptiles.
However, some of these animals are known for being pests, while others can be downright deadly.
Regardless, many animals in the Sunshine State can be pretty scary, and there are plenty of reasons for why residents feel that way.
Below are some of the scariest Florida animals that have been featured in News 6′s previous stories.
SHARKS
Kicking off this list are sharks and for good reason.
Florida is considered the shark bite capital of the U.S., with 16 attacks happening in 2023.
The majority of these cases stemmed from Volusia County, which saw eight people bitten by such sharks as spinners and blacktips.
“Volusia County is largely blacktip sharks and occasionally spinners, and they’re highly piscivorous. They’re looking for bait fish,” researcher Gavin Naylor told News 6. “The surfers are kicking and splashing and sometimes the soles of their feet or their arms will look like mullet or menhaden. The sharks are in there feeding, they’ll quickly turn, bite first, think afterward, bite somebody’s ankle, get terrified and think, ‘That’s not what I thought it was.’”
Since 1882, there have been nearly 1,000 reported shark attacks statewide, according to the Florida Museum. Most of those cases involved requiem or bull sharks.
Thankfully, shark attacks aren’t common, and they’re very rarely fatal.
Shark attacks are also more common at specific times, with most unprovoked attacks happening in the afternoon and during late summer.
ALLIGATORS
Next up is Florida’s state reptile: the alligator.
These gargantuan lizards have been responsible for over 450 attacks since 1948, with 30 of them being fatal.
Despite those numbers, alligators are still a popular animal in Florida, and it’s even possible to keep one as a pet under the right conditions.
Whether that’s a good idea is another matter altogether.
Alligators are especially dangerous during the spring and summer, when their courtship and mating seasons typically kick-off.
With their tough hides (able to deflect certain types of ammunition) and strange, glowing eyes, it’s no wonder why there are so many horror stories about these beasts.
BEARS
Third on this list are Florida’s bears, the most common of which are the black bears.
They might appear cuddly at first, but below those puppy-dog eyes and furry pelts are teeth and claws that can easily destroy a person’s car.
State officials have reported nearly 40 “incidents of physical contact” between black bears and humans stemming back to 2006, making bear attacks a rare threat.
However, Florida lawmakers and sheriffs called for a bear hunt as recently as last year due to the growing number of encounters between bears and people.
If you come across one of these animals in the wild, you’re advised to give it plenty of space. Otherwise, you risk being on the wrong end of a charging black bear.
MOSQUITOES
Florida residents might not have to worry about teeth or claws with these tiny bloodsuckers, but there are still plenty of other threats posed by mosquitoes.
Last year, the Florida Department of Health issued a statewide advisory after four cases of malaria were confirmed in Sarasota County. Malaria can cause fever, chills, headache and nausea, with severe cases involving symptoms like seizures, kidney failures and even comas, according to the CDC.
Aside from malaria, some of Florida’s 90 species of mosquitoes are capable of transmitting serious diseases like West Nile Virus, dengue and yellow fever.
Beyond that, mosquito bites are just unpleasant in general, causing itchy bumps to form all over your body if you’re not careful.
And given that Florida’s peak mosquito season runs from late spring to early fall, residents in the state are going to have to deal with them for a while yet to come.
COCKROACHES
While they’re not as likely to suck your blood, cockroaches are a common pest for many residents in the Sunshine State.
These six-legged home invaders are survival experts, hiding in nooks and crannies you might not even know you had.
They feast on food that’s been left out — even scraps in the trash or pipes — and produce allergens through their feces, shed skins and body parts like antennae and legs, according to the University of Florida.
But these pests can also spread diseases like Salmonella or Typhoid fever, which makes them an even bigger threat.
Usually, roaches hide in sheltered areas during the day and come out to feed at night, and if there are any in your home, you’re likely to find them near the kitchen sink, in cabinets, behind drawers, or on the underside of furniture.
PYTHONS
Burmese pythons have wreaked havoc in the Florida Everglades ever since they were first introduced a few decades ago.
These invasive snakes can reach up to 19 feet long and weigh well over 100 pounds, as one hunter discovered just last year.
With few predators in the area, these pythons have been a major threat to the South Florida ecosystem, prompting state officials to introduce the “Florida Python Challenge” — a 10-day competition aimed at hunting and removing these snakes from the region.
While there have been no recorded deaths from python attacks in Florida, their large teeth can cause severe cuts, and larger pythons are capable of eating dogs, cats, and even alligators.
MONKEYS
Another invasive species on this list are the “rhesus macaques,” which were originally brought to the state to attract tourists to an island in the Silver River.
However, the monkeys swam away from the island into the surrounding forest, breeding and increasing their numbers over the years.
While the population of monkeys in the Silver Springs State Park has reached as high as 400 at some points, trapping and removal efforts have kept them from getting out of hand. As of 2015, the FWC reported that there were around 190 inside the park.
But these monkeys still pose a threat to public health, as rhesus macaques in Florida have tested positive for herpes B.
The CDC states that this viral infection is extremely rare, but it can lead to severe brain damage or even death. The virus can be transmitted by these monkeys through bites, scratches or contact with bodily fluids.
SKUNK APE
While there is no solid evidence that this creature actually exists, it hasn’t stopped cryptozoologists from searching for the mythical beast.
The “Skunk Ape” is Florida’s equivalent of the Bigfoot or Sasquatch, and it got its moniker from the foul smell that reportedly accompanies it — an odor like rotten eggs, moldy cheese or feces.
An FWC spokesperson said the Skunk Ape’s origins could stem from people mistakenly identifying wild hogs or bears.
However, Dave Shealy — the founder of the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters in Ochopee — told News 6 that he was able to capture actual footage of the beast back in 2000.
One of the places that Shealy claimed is a “hotspot” for Skunk Ape sightings is right by Interstate 4.
“If you’re going on I-4, and you hit, I believe, I-95, make a left and go north,” he said. “Right there — at the end of the I-4 corridor where it hits I-95 is a real hotbed of activity. And it has been for the last few years.”
Don’t think any of these animals are all that scary? Then be sure to share which animals scare you the most in the comments below!
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