9 Creatures in Idaho that Might Bite You, & 1 That Definitely Will
WHY DO ANIMALS BITE HUMANS?
Prompted by their innate instincts and responses to perceived threats or stressful situations, animals might nip at humans for a wide range of reasons. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are several factors that can result in an animal biting a human:
- domesticated or wild, some animals will resort to aggression when they perceive a threat or the need to defend their offspring or territory;
- if an animal is in pain or suffering from an illness, it may bite when touched in response to discomfort;
- animals may bite if teased, provoked, or mishandled by humans;
- and certain animals bite for a basic, instinctive need to chase and catch prey.
We could go on, but we'd rather point out nine Idaho animals that might bite you!
9 Creatures in Idaho that Might Bite You
Gallery Credit: Ryan Antoinette Valenzuela
TODDLERS
Before you judge us, hear us out. Toddlers are like tiny, adorable cavemen. When they're frustrated, mad, or scared, they can't exactly express it with a TED Talk, so they resort to the classic "bite now, ask questions later" strategy.
According to one source, it's their way of saying, "Hey, pay attention!" or, "I definitely don't like this." They might have even discovered that biting is the key to getting what they want, like one kid biting another over a toy in daycare.
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Parents know even the sweetest, cutest, best-mannered toddler can bite without a moment's notice for no apparent reason. And the more you think about it, the scarier it gets. According to State of Babies Yearbook 2023, 3.5% of Idaho households have babies; babies that will become toddlers with fresh-cut chompers.
ARE TODDLER BITES DANGEROUS?
In short, probably not. Still, some folks worry about contracting infections like hepatitis B and hepatitis C, but the National Library of Medicine maintains little tyke bites aren't typically prone to bacterial invasions.
So while it's true that some toddlers might bite out of fear, anxiety, playfulness, or to fulfill an unmet need, the good news is most nips are harmless...unlike a bobcat.
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