Animal-Related Fatalities in the United States (2018-2023)

Abstract

Animal encounters are often positive but can result in serious injury, illness, or death, posing a global public health concern. Over 60% of human infectious diseases are zoonotic, contributing to millions of illnesses and deaths annually. Non-infectious injuries, including bites and stings, are also common, with snakebites alone causing over 100 000 deaths each year. The primary goal of this study was to describe fatal, animal-related encounters and assess trends from 2018 to 2023 in the United States. This was a secondary data analysis, using aggregate, population-level data obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER). Data was analyzed on 1604 total animal-related deaths, averaging 267 annually (crude death rate: 0.808 per 1 million population). Fatalities were stratified by cause, animal type (venomous vs nonvenomous), age, sex, race, ethnicity, and region. Overall, the major causes of death were from hornets, wasps, and bees (31.0%), “other mammals” (28.6%) and dogs (26.2%). Most decedents were male (67.6%), white (87.2%) and between 55 and 64 years old (22.8%). The Southern U.S. had the highest number (46.8%) and rate (0.984 per 1 million) of deaths. We observed an upward trend in animal-related fatalities, including a notable increase in human deaths caused by dogs during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. This rise is likely associated with the surge in pet adoptions and increased time spent at home during this period. Public health strategies that promote safe animal interactions, increased awareness, and responsible pet ownership may help mitigate these fatalities. Future research should aim to capture contextual factors, such as household dynamics, animal behavior, and environmental conditions to better inform targeted prevention efforts.

Plain Language Summary

Most interactions between people and animals are safe or even helpful, but some can result in serious injury or death. These types of incidents are an important public health issue across the world. More than 60 percent of infectious diseases in people come from animals. These diseases cause millions of illnesses and deaths each year. Along with infections, injuries like bites and stings can also be dangerous. For example, snake bites alone cause more than 100,000 deaths worldwide each year. This study looked at deadly incidents involving animals in the United States from 2018 to 2023. We used public data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to study 1,604 deaths caused by animals. That is about 267 deaths each year. The overall death rate was 0.808 per one million people. We looked at the cause of death, the type of animal involved (poisonous or not), and the age, gender, race, ethnicity, and region of the person who died. The most common causes of death were stings from hornets, wasps, and bees (31 percent), other mammals (28.6 percent), and dog attacks (26.2 percent). Most people who died were men (67.6 percent), white (87.2 percent), and between 55 and 64 years old. The southern part of the country had the highest number and rate of deaths, making up almost half of the total. We also found more deaths from dog attacks during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This might be related to more people adopting pets and spending more time at home. Public health efforts that teach safe ways to interact with animals and promote responsible pet care could help reduce these deaths. More research is needed to better understand how home life, animal behavior, and the environment affect these risks.

Introduction

While interactions with animals are usually enjoyable and psychologically beneficial, adverse encounters can occur resulting in significant injuries, illnesses and even deaths and are a public health concern worldwide. The global burden of zoonotic diseases is substantial, with over 200 known zoonoses contributing significantly to worldwide illness and death. Experts estimate that approximately 60% of human infectious diseases originate from animals, resulting in more than 1 billion cases of illness and over 2.5 million deaths annually.^1,2 Among these, rabies alone is responsible for an estimated 59 000 deaths each year globally. ³

Beyond infectious diseases, physical trauma from animal encounters including bites, stings, strikes, and crush injuries leads to millions of injuries and thousands of deaths each year, particularly in regions with limited access to medical care.^{4 -8} The World Health Organization estimates that snakebites alone cause between 81 000 and 138 000 deaths annually. ⁴

In the United States, animal-related injuries account for a substantial number of emergency department (ED) visits, with an estimated 4.5 million dog bites occurring each year, resulting in approximately 885 000 medical visits and thousands of hospitalizations.^{8 -10} More recent estimates suggest between 337 000 and 412 500 ED visits for dog bites annually.^{11 -13} Non-canine animals also contribute significantly, with over 1 million ED visits attributed to stings and bites from arthropods and other species.^7,9,14

Although animal encounters rarely result in harm, fatalities do occur and remain a significant public health concern. Between 2010 and 2014, Forrester et al reported an average of 232 animal-related deaths annually, with the most common causes including nonvenomous arthropod bites, dog attacks, and hymenoptera stings. ¹⁵ In addition, the associated economic burden is considerable, with annual costs exceeding $13 billion in the U.S. when medical care, lost productivity, and rehabilitation are considered. ¹⁵ The widespread presence of domestic and agricultural animals further underscores the risk. In 2022, an estimated 66% of U.S. households owned pets, including over 65 million dogs, 46 million cats, ¹⁶ and more than 170 million large farm mammals being reported. ¹⁷ This extensive human-animal interface, particularly in rural and agricultural regions contributes to increased occupational and incidental risks of animal-related injuries and fatalities.

As pet ownership, human-wildlife and livestock interactions, and urban encroachment into natural habitats continue to increase, the frequency of adverse human-animal encounters remains a pressing public health concern. This study seeks to update the literature by examining trends in fatal animal-related incidents and testing whether the number of deaths has increased significantly from 2018 to 2023. It also assesses demographic differences among decedents. Understanding these patterns is essential for informing targeted public health interventions, shaping policy, and enhancing public awareness to prevent future fatalities.

Methods

Study Design and Data Sources

This was a secondary data analysis using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER), an online statistical database query system that provides national mortality data for public health research. ¹⁸ Mortality data used in WONDER are compiled from death certificates submitted annually by individual states to the National Center for Health Statistics. ¹⁸ For this analysis, WONDER was queried for animal-related fatalities listed as the underlying cause of death (UCD) for the study period 2018 through 2023. ¹⁹ UCD’s are based on coding from the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), as reported on death certificates completed by certifying physicians. This study was conducted and reported in accordance with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. ²⁰

Measures

Animal-related ICD-10 codes, W53–W59 and X20–X29, which represents fatal injuries caused by bites, stings, contact, attacks, or envenomation were downloaded from WONDER and grouped as non-venomous and venomous categories (Table 1).

Table 1.

ICD-10 codes for animal-related fatalities.

Nonvenomous animal encounters	Venomous animal encounters
W53: Bitten by rat	X20: Contact with venomous snakes and lizards
W54: Bitten or struck by dog	X21: Contact with venomous spiders
W55: Bitten or struck by other mammal	X22: Contact with scorpions
W56: Contact with marine animal	X23: Contact with hornets, wasps, and bees
W57: Bitten or stung by nonvenomous insect or other nonvertebrate	X24: Contact with centipedes and venomous millipedes
W58: Bitten or struck by crocodile or alligator	X25: Contact with other specified venomous arthropods X26 : Contact with venomous marine animals and plants
W59: Bitten or crushed by other reptiles	X27: Contact with other specified venomous animals
	X29: Contact with unspecified venomous animal or plant

Note. These codes include injuries resulting from chemical or venom release through fangs, spines, hairs, tentacles, or other venom apparatus. The analysis excluded fatalities associated with Transportation-related animal encounters (ICD-10 codes V80.0–V80.9); Zoonotic infections (ICD-10 codes A00–B99); Ingestion of poisonous animals or plants.

Variables extracted from available fatality data included:

• Total number of deaths

• Region of occurrence (based on the 4 U.S. Census regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West)

• Year and month of death

• Age (in 10-year intervals)

• Race (American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Black or African American, White, and more than 1 race)

• Ethnicity (Hispanic or Latino; Not Hispanic or Latino)

• Sex

• Place of death

• ICD-10 cause of death

• Autopsy (Yes/No/Not Stated)

Crude death rates were calculated for the entire 6-year period (2018-2023) as follows.

$$CrudeDeathRate=\frac{TotalNumberofDeaths\left[2018-2023\right]}{TotalUSpopulation\left[2018-2023\right]}\times {10}^6$$

Rates were stratified by demographic variables, including age group, race, Hispanic ethnicity, sex, and cause of death. Due to WONDER’s data suppression rules, incidence counts and rates below a predetermined threshold were not reported. Univariate analysis was performed only on available, non-suppressed data. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the number and percentage of animal-related deaths and crude death rates across key demographic characteristics, including sex, race, age group, and ethnicity. Chi-square goodness-of-fit tests were conducted to evaluate whether the observed distribution of deaths within each demographic category significantly deviated from an equal distribution. A P-value of equal or less than .05 was considered statistically significant.

Data Analysis

To assess temporal trends of deaths across the study period, a Poisson regression model was used with the annual number of deaths as the dependent variable and years (coded numerically from 0 to 5) as the independent variable. To adjust for population differences across years, the natural logarithm of the U.S. population was included as an offset variable, allowing the model to estimate changes in the death rate rather than as raw counts. The model assumed a log link function and a Poisson distribution, appropriate for modeling count data over time. Model significance was assessed using the Type III Wald chi-square test for the time variable. Analysis was conducted using IBM, SPSS Statistics (v28).

Data obtained for this project was de-identified and publicly available and considered exempt from institutional human subject review.

Results

As shown in Figure 1, an upward trend was observed across the study period between 2018 and 2023, for a total of 1604 animal-related deaths. This equated to 267 fatalities annually, ranging from 227 deaths in 2018, to 313 deaths in 2023, representing approximately a 38% increase over the study period.

Figure 1.

Trend of annual number of animal-related deaths in the U.S. (2018-2023).

Source. CDC WONDER (2018-2023).

Note. Excludes motor vehicle collisions or zoonotic infections.

As shown in Table 2, Poisson regression analysis revealed statistically significant association between year and the number of deaths, with an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 1.063. This indicated an estimated 6.3% annual increase in the rate of fatalities, after adjusting for changes in population size.

Table 2.

Year and number of deaths, Poisson regression for animal-related deaths in the U.S. (2018-2023).

Predictor	B	SE	95% CI	Wald χ²	df	P-value
(Intercept)	−14.249	0.0360		157056.5	1	.01
Time	0.063	0.0085	1.045-1.080	51.08	1	<.001
(Scale)	87.30	50.40	28.16-270.68	–	–	–

The most common reported cause of death was hornets, wasps, and bees (31.0%), followed by other mammals (28.6%) and dogs (26.2%), Table 3. Together, these 3 categories accounted for over 85% of all fatalities. Less frequent causes include venomous arthropods, snakes, spiders, and marine animals. Several species, such as scorpions, crocodiles, and rats, had suppressed data due to small counts, labeled as “S.” The overall crude death rate during the study period was 0.808 deaths per 1 million population.

Table 3.

Animal-related encounters and cause of death, by rank, United States (2018-2023).

ICD	Cause of death	(n)	(%)	Rate*
X23	Hornets, wasps, bees	497	31.0%	0.250
W55	Other Mammals	458	28.6%	0.230
W54	Dog	420	26.2%	0.211
X25	Other specified venomous arthropods	78	4.9%	0.039
W57	Nonvenomous arthropod	54	3.4%	0.027
X20	Venomous Snakes	30	1.9%	0.015
X21	Venomous Spiders	26	1.6%	0.013
X29	Unspecified venomous animal	13	0.8%	U
W56	Marine animal	11	0.7%	U
X27	Other specified venomous animals	0	0.0%	U
W53	Rat	S	S	S
W58	Alligator or crocodile	S	S	S
W59	Other reptile	S	S	S
X22	Scorpions	S	S	S
X24	Centipede/venomous millipede	S	S	S
X26	Venomous marine animals and plants	S	S	S
Total		1604	100.0%	0.808

Source. CDC WONDER (2013-2018).

Note. S = suppressed; U = unreliable.

^*Crude death rate per 1 million population.

Nonvenomous Versus Venomous Fatalities

As shown in Table 4, nonvenomous animal encounters accounted for a greater proportion of fatalities than venomous ones, with 943 deaths (58.8%) versus 644 deaths (41.2%). Among nonvenomous causes, the leading contributors were other mammals (28.6%) and dogs (26.2%). Among venomous encounters, hornets, wasps, and bees were the most common cause (31.0%), followed by other specified venomous arthropods (4.9%), snakes and lizards (1.9%), and spiders (1.6%). A small number of deaths from marine animals and unspecified venomous species were recorded but had unreliable rates. The overall crude death rate for all animal-related fatalities during the study period was 0.808 per 1 million population.

Table 4.

Nonvenomous and venomous animal-related deaths, United States (2018-2023).

Cause of death	ICD code	Deaths n (%)	Crude rate
Bitten or struck by other mammals	W55	458 (28.6)	0.231
Bitten or struck by dog	W54	420 (26.2)	0.212
Bitten or stung by nonvenomous insect and other nonvenomous arthropods	W57	54 (3.4)	0.027
Contact with marine animal	W56	11 (0.7)	U
Subtotal—Nonvenomous		943 (58.8)
Contact with hornets, wasps and bees	X23	497 (31.0)	0.250
Contact with other specified venomous arthropods	X25	78 (4.9)	0.039
Contact with venomous snakes and lizards	X20	30 (1.9)	0.015
Contact with venomous spiders	X21	26 (1.6)	0.013
Contact with unspecified venomous animal or plant	X29	13 (0.8)	U
Subtotal—Venomous		644 (41.2)
Total + Suppressed (17 cases)		1604 (100)	0.808

Source. CDC WONDER (2018-2023).

Note. Crude Rate per 1 million based on U.S. population 1 984 987 277. U = unreliable.

Sex, Race, Age, and Ethnicity

As shown in Table 5, males accounted for the majority of fatalities (n = 1085) with a crude death rate of 1.11 per 1 million, more than double that of females (n = 519; 0.52 per 1 million). Among racial groups, American Indian/Alaska Native individuals had the highest death rate (1.00 per 1 million), followed by White individuals (0.93 per 1 million). Death rates increased steadily with age, peaking at 0.252 per 1 million in those aged 85 years and older. By ethnicity, non-Hispanic individuals accounted for 1436 deaths (0.89 per 1 million), compared to 165 deaths among Hispanic individuals (0.44 per 1 million).

Table 5.

Animal-related fatalities and crude mortality rates by demographic characteristics, United States (2018-2023).

Characteristic	Deaths		Rate*	P
	n	%
Sex				<.001
Male	1085	67.6	1.11
Female	519	32.4	0.52
Race				<.001
American Indian/Alaska Native	26	1.6	1.00
Asian	18	1.1	UN
Black or African American	139	8.7	0.52
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander	0	0	U
White	1398	87.2	0.93
More than one race	23	1.4	0.39
Age Group				<.001
<1 y	35	2.2	0.157
1-4 y	53	3.3	0.057
5-14 y	34	2.1	0.014
15-24 y	29	1.8	0.011
25-34 y	73	4.6	0.027
35-44 y	176	11.0	0.069
45-54 y	206	12.8	0.084
55-64 y	366	22.8	0.144
65-74 y	339	21.1	0.172
75-84 y	196	12.2	0.196
85+ y	97	6.0	0.252
Ethnicity				<.001
Hispanic or Latino Origin	165	10.3	0.442
Not Hispanic or Latino	1436	89.7	0.891
Not stated	S	n/a	n/a

Source. CDC WONDER (2018-2023).

Note. Race based on single race estimates of the July 1 resident population, from the Vintage 2023 postcensal series (US Census Bureau).

“S” indicates suppressed data due to small case counts; “U” denotes unreliable rates; “n/a” means not applicable. Total includes suppressed counts where noted.

^*Crude rate per 1-million population.

Males accounted for most deaths (67.6%), and older adults (particularly those aged 55-84 years) represented the largest proportion of fatal encounters. White individuals experienced the highest number of deaths overall; however, after adjusting for population size, American Indian/Alaska Native individuals had the highest crude death rate (1.00 per 1 million population).Chi-square analysis revealed statistically significant differences in the distribution of animal-related deaths by sex, race, age group and Hispanic origin (P < .001), indicating that that fatalities were not equally distributed across demographic characteristics.

A breakdown of 1604 fatal animal-related encounters in the United States from 2018 to 2023, stratified by sex and cause of death are shown in Table 6.

Table 6.

Sex-specific mortality and crude death rates from animal-related injuries, United States (2018-2023).

Cause of death	Females n (%)	Males n (%)	Total n (%)	Crude rate*
Contact with hornets, wasps and bees	83 (16.7)	414 (83.3)	497 (31.0)	0.25
Bitten or struck by other mammals	146 (31.9)	312 (68.1)	458 (29.5)	0.23
Bitten or struck by dog	229 (54.5)	191 (45.5)	420 (26.2)	0.21
Contact with other specified venomous arthropods	19 (24.4)	59 (75.6)	78 (4.9)	0.04
Bitten or stung by nonvenomous insect and other nonvenomous arthropods	10 (18.5)	44 (81.5)	54 (3.4)	0.03
Contact with venomous snakes and lizards	7 (23.3)	23 (76.7)	30 (1.9)	0.01
Contact with venomous spider	12 (46.2)	14 (53.9)	26 (1.7)	0.02
Contact with marine animal	0 (0)	11 (100.0)	11 (0.8)	U
Contact with unspecified venomous animal or plant	1(7.7)	12 (92.3)	13 (0.8)	U

Source. CDC WONDER (2018-2023).

Note. “U” denotes unreliable rates.

^*Total Crude Rate males and females, per 1-million population.

The most common cause of death was contact with hornets, wasps, and bees, accounting for 31% of all fatalities (n = 497), with males comprising the majority (83.3%).Females accounted for the highest proportion of fatalities due to dog attacks (54.5%), while males were overwhelmingly represented in deaths due to contact with venomous animals, including venomous arthropods, snakes, spiders, and marine animals. For example, 92.3% of deaths involving unspecified venomous animals or plants occurred in males.

Crude death rates were also calculated per population, with male rates consistently higher than female rates across most categories. The highest crude rate observed was for male deaths caused by hornets, wasps, and bees (0.422 per population), compared to 0.082 for females.

Suppressed (S) and unreliable (U) data are indicated for categories with low or inconsistent counts, particularly among less common causes of death such as marine animals and unspecified venomous animals.

Regional Distribution

Overall, the geographic distribution of fatal animal encounters (Figure 2) shows that the Southern U.S. disproportionately reported higher number of animal-related deaths compared to other regions. Nearly half of all venomous (47.9%) and nonvenomous (44.9%) animal-related deaths occurred in the South. Texas, Florida, and Georgia had the highest concentration of fatalities in the country with 751 deaths (46.8%). This was followed by the Midwest with 694 deaths (22.4%), and the West (20.9%). The Northeast region reported the fewest fatalities with 159 deaths (9.9%).

Figure 2.

Geographic distribution of the number of animal-related deaths by Census Region, United States (2018-2023).

Source. CDC WONDER (2018-2023).

The spatial variation may reflect regional differences in climate, wildlife species distribution, occupational and recreational exposures, and population density. The elevated burden in the South is consistent with prior studies that emphasize the region’s increased vulnerability to animal encounters, particularly due to warmer climate, rural land use patterns, and higher prevalence of venomous species.

Further stratification of fatalities by ICD-10 codes at the regional level (Table 7), reveals the South region accounted for the majority of deaths across most categories, including contact with hornets, wasps, and bees (X23), dog attacks (W54), venomous snakes and lizards (X20). Notably, all recorded deaths from venomous arthropods (X25), nonvenomous arthropods (W57), and snakes (X20) occurred exclusively in the South, highlighting the region’s unique ecological risk factors.

Table 7.

Animal-related deaths by region, ICD-10 Code, United States (2018-2023).

Region	Contact with hornets, wasps and bees (X23)	Bitten or struck by other mammals (W55)	Bitten or struck by dog (W54)	Contact with other specified venomous arthropods (X25)	Bitten or stung nonvenomous insect, other nonvenomous arthropods (W57)	Contact with venomous snakes and lizards (X20)
	n (%)	n (%)	n (%)	n (%)	n (%)	n (%)
Northeast	48 (100.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)
Midwest	99 (39.6)	92 (36.8)	59 (23.6)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)
South	207 (33.1)	179 (28.6)	189 (30.2)	24 (3.8)	14 (2.2)	12 (1.9)
West	37 (15.0)	119 (48.4)	90 (36.6)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)
Total	391	390	338	24	14	12

Source. CDC WONDER (2018-2023).

In comparison, the Midwest reported high proportions of deaths from hornet stings (X23) and encounters with other mammals (W55), while the West had the highest proportion of mammal-related deaths and second highest fatalities from dog attacks. The Northeast had a uniquely narrow profile, with deaths attributed only to hornet, wasp, and bee stings (X23), suggesting limited human exposure to high-risk animal species.

Place of Death and Autopsy

Among the 1604 deaths reported (Table 8), 39.2% of deaths occurred in an inpatient facility, 23.1% outpatient or emergency department, 20.1% occurred at home, 14.5% at other locations, 2.1% in a nursing home/long-term care/ Hospice facility, and 1.1% were dead on arrival. Among the total animal related deaths, 648 (40.4%) had an autopsy, 943 (59.6%) did not, and unknown in 13 cases (1.0%). Among autopsies performed, 256 were dog related fatalities (39.5%), 176 (27.2%) were for deaths from “other mammals,” 132 (20.4%) were in hornet/wasp/bee sting cases, other specified venomous animal in 32 cases (4.9%), and 15 cases involved nonvenomous arthropods (2.3%). Information on other species of animal involved in a death and in which an autopsy was performed was suppressed for 37 cases.

Table 8.

Summary of animal-related deaths, by place of death and autopsy, United States (2018-2023).

Category	Deaths n (%)
Place of death	1604 (100.0)
Inpatient facility	629 (39.0)
Outpatient/emergency department	371 (23.0)
At home	322 (20.0)
Other location	232 (14.0)
Nursing home/long-term care/hospice	14 (1.0)
Dead on arrival	17 (1.0)
Autopsy and cause of death*	648 (100)
Dog-related	256 (39.5)
Other mammal	176 (27.2)
Hornet/Wasp/Bee	132 (20.4)
Other specified venomous arthropods	32 (4.9)
Nonvenomous—arthropods and other insects	15 (2.3)

Source. CDC WONDER, 2018 to 2023.

^*Reported as “yes” to have an autopsy. Number of deaths rounded to nearest whole number.

Urban-Rural Variation in Animal-Related Fatalities

The distribution of animal-related deaths across U.S. urbanization categories from 2018 to 2023 revealed distinct patterns by both location and cause of death (Figure 3). Contrary to assumptions that rural areas are at greater risk for fatal animal encounters, a substantial number of deaths occurred in urbanized regions. Medium metro (n = 332), large fringe metro (n = 302), and large central metro (n = 270) counties accounted for the highest total counts, collectively representing the majority of fatalities reported during the study period.

Figure 3.

Animal-related deaths by cause and urbanization category, United States (2018-2023).

Source. CDC WONDER, 2018 to 2023.

Note. CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) developed a 6-level urban-rural classification scheme for U.S. counties, based on 2003 OMB metropolitan area definitions, Rural-Urban Continuum Codes, Urban Influence Codes, Census 2000, and data 2004 population estimates. This system distinguishes between large central metro, large fringe metro, medium metro, small metro, micropolitan, and noncore counties to better capture urbanization gradients relevant to public health research. Notably, it separates large metropolitan counties into central and fringe subcategories due to observed health disparities, a distinction supported by discriminant analysis of demographic, economic, and health indicators (CDC WONDER).

In large central metro areas, dog-related fatalities (W54) were the most prevalent (n = 104), followed by deaths from hornet, wasp, and bee stings (X23; n = 69), and other mammals (W55; n = 55). Large fringe metro areas showed a similar profile, with the highest number of sting-related deaths (X23; n = 96), in addition to dog (n = 85) and other mammal-related deaths (n = 67). Medium metro counties reported the highest number of sting-related deaths overall (X23; n = 122), underscoring the risk posed by venomous arthropods even in densely populated environments.

In nonmetropolitan regions, micropolitan (n = 256) and noncore (n = 261) counties also experienced significant numbers of fatalities. These were primarily due to other mammals (W55) and stings from hornets, wasps, and bees (X23), indicating that although overall deaths were higher in urban areas, the public health burden of animal encounters remains substantial in rural settings as well.

Discussion

Trends in Animal-Related Fatalities (2018-2023)

This study documented an average of 267 animal-related deaths annually from 2018 to 2023, with a corresponding death rate of 0.808 per 1 million person-years. A clear upward trend in both the number and rate of deaths was noted, particularly in 2022 and 2023, with dog attacks contributing significantly to this increase. To place these findings in historical context, Table 9 summarizes key peer-reviewed studies that have reported on animal-related fatalities in the United States over the past 4 decades.^{15,21 -24}

Table 9.

Peer-reviewed studies reporting animal-related deaths and death rates in the U.S. (1979-2023).

Author(s)	Study period	Annual deaths	Death rate*
Langley and Morrow 22	1979-1990	157	0.657
Langley 23	1991-2001	177	0.655
Forrester et al 24	1999-2007	200	0.688
Forrester et al 21	2008-2015	201	0.641
Forrester et al 15	2010-2014	232	0.738
Langley and Kearney +	2018-2023	267	0.808

^*Crude rate per 1 million population.

⁺Current study.

Although earlier periods reported slightly lower fatality counts, the trend consistently show an upward trajectory in both annual deaths and death rates. The current study documents the highest average annual deaths and death rate observed in the past 4 decades, suggesting a continued and measurable rise in animal-related fatalities. This trend underscores the need for updated prevention strategies, enhanced surveillance, and further research into species-specific risks and contributing factors.

Fatal Wildlife Encounters

In general, most medical records involving human–animal attacks do not distinguish between wild or free-ranging animals and captive animals. ²⁵ Nevertheless, fatal attacks, particularly those involving wild mammals, are rare. In a literature review study of published and unpublished papers, government reports, and websites, Conover estimated that approximately 3000 nonfatal adverse encounters and fewer than 5 deaths occur annually in the United States due to wild mammal encounters, excluding small rodents and bats. ²⁵ In another compilation of documented incidents from publicly available sources, including a curated list on Wikipedia titled “List of fatal bear attacks in North America,” between 2018 and 2023, an estimated 26 fatalities were reported involving bear attacks in North America. Among those fatalities, 8 were attributed to black bears, 15 to brown bears, and 2 to polar bears. ²⁶ Additionally, 2 fatal cougar attacks were identified during this same period through news reports and wildlife agency documentation. ²⁷ While Wikipedia is not a peer-reviewed source, it aggregates cases from verified media and official records, providing a relatively good and useful starting point for tracking rare, fatal wildlife encounters.

Nonvenomous and Venomous Animal Fatalities

Consistent with prior literature, the majority of fatalities resulted from nonvenomous animals, particularly “other mammals,” a category including horses, cattle, pigs, raccoons, and other mammals. Horses and cattle are likely responsible for most fatalities in this group. Livestock-related injuries are a well-established occupational hazard, constituting 12% to 24% of all farm injuries. Notably, Barros and Langley found that 36% of occupational animal-related deaths were attributed to cattle and 31% to horses. ²⁸ More recently, Tustin and Tustin found mammals responsible for over 60% of severe occupational animal-related injuries reported to OSHA from 2015 to 2021, with the highest incidence in livestock merchant wholesalers. ²⁹

Venomous animal deaths have steadily increased over recent decades, from an average of 69 per year (1991-2001) to 107 per year in this study. The CDC reported that from 2000 to 2017, a total of 1109 deaths from hornet, wasp, and bee stings occurred, for an annual average of 62 deaths. ³⁰ Our study found that hornets, wasps, and bees were the most common venomous species involved, responsible for an average of 83 deaths per year from 2018 to 2023. In other studies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that between 2008 and 2010 the number of nonfatal work-related injuries from insects, arachnids, and mites resulted in 83 fatal occupational injures with majority of deaths due to bee stings. ³¹ In a separate study, Barros and Langley reported that between 2011 and 2014, approximately 71 460 non-fatal animal-related injuries and illnesses occurred at work, 38% were caused by insects, arachnids, mites. ²⁸

Our study was consistent with previous reports that included a high percentage of Hymenoptera deaths, primarily among males. Hymenoptera is a large order of insects, mostly arthropods comprised of sawflies, wasps, bees, hornets and ants. Stings from Hymenoptera are a leading cause of anaphylaxis-related fatalities with an estimated of 3% of adults have life-threatening sting allergies. ³² The U.S. has seen an increasing number of invasive hymenoptera species over the last few decades which are causing severe adverse reactions, including deaths, in humans, pets, and even destruction of important pollinators such as honeybees.^31,32 Examples of such hymenoptera include various species of fire ants (Solenopsis sp.), Asian needle ants (Brachyponera chinensis), Northern Giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia), Africanized honeybee (Apis mellifera scutellata) and recently the Asian or yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) has been found in Georgia and South Carolina.^33,34

In Europe, fatalities from Hymenoptera stings, including those from the invasive yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) have been documented.^35,36 Across 32 European countries, a total of 1691 deaths were reported between 1994 and 2016 due to Hymenoptera stings. The fatality rate ranged from 0 to 2.24 per million population, with an average of 0.26 per million. ³⁵ Notably, 78.1% of the deaths occurred in males.

Fatal Dog Attacks

On average, 70 fatalities per year (26% of all deaths) were attributed to dog attacks during the study period, representing nearly 45% of nonvenomous deaths. A notable finding was the sharp post-COVID-19 increase, with a 2.7-fold rise in fatalities from 2018 to 2023. This trend is corroborated by CDC data and other studies attributing the rise to increased child-dog exposure, elevated household stress, and diminished adult supervision during lockdowns.^{37 -39} Interestingly, a greater proportion of dog-related deaths occurred in females, a reversal from other animal species. One plausible explanation may lie in increasing female pet ownership rates.^{40 -42} The highest death rates occurred in children under 5 and adults over 65, particularly infants under age 1 and adults over 85 years. These findings align with CDC data on dog bite incidence by age group and sex.^43,44 Nationally, studies report that approximately 80% of dog bite incidents occur at home. ¹³ During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of households acquiring dogs increased, potentially raising the likelihood of dog bites occurring at home due to school closures, travel restrictions, and a shift toward working from home.^38,45,46 While most published studies focus on local data and nonfatal bites, few have examined national trends, and we were unable to identify recent literature specifically addressing the physical location of dog bite-related fatalities. Although our dataset did not allow us to determine whether the observed increase in fatal dog attacks occurred within the home, we conducted a supplementary analysis using the CDC WONDER database. We found that 24.8% of the victims in our current study (2018-2023) died at home, compared to 23.1% during the earlier period of 2010 to 2017 (data not shown).

Environmental Factors, Geographic, and Demographic Patterns

Emerging evidence suggests a potential link between rising temperatures and increased dog bite incidents.^47,48 This association is particularly relevant in the Southern U.S., which reported the highest number of animal-related deaths, a pattern consistent with the region’s historical agricultural activity, warm climate, and high prevalence of arthropod and reptiles. Given that the Southern U.S., like many regions, has experienced record-breaking heat over the past decade, climate change may be indirectly exacerbating animal-related risks, particularly by influencing the behavior, distribution, and activity patterns of venomous species. ⁴⁹

Males accounted for nearly 70% of fatalities. This disparity may reflect their disproportionate representation in outdoor labor, agricultural work, and recreational activities.^50,51 Notably, nearly half of outdoor workers identify as either Black or Hispanic, comprising approximately one-third or 32% of the overall U.S. population. ⁵²

Interestingly, but not surprising, our study found higher death rates among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) individuals and lower death rates among Blacks and Hispanics. We attribute the higher rate among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) to several factors, such as geography, occupation, cultural and lifestyle factors. These characteristics tend to influence exposure patterns. In general, American Indians in the U.S. are more likely to reside in rural areas or reservations, or frontier areas with greater proximity and exposure to wildlife, livestock, feral animals, and venomous species.^53,54 Rural communities often geographically isolated, and many residents face significant barriers to timely emergency care, increasing the risk of fatal outcomes. In contrast, Blacks and Hispanics in the United States overall have lower rates of animal-related fatal injuries primarily because they are less likely to live or work in environments where dangerous animal encounters are not as common or engage in activities such as hunting or trapping exposing them to potentially dangerous animals.^55,56 Additionally, disparities in reporting or cause-of-death classification could result in underrepresentation of animal-related deaths in some populations. These findings highlight the need for culturally relevant, geographically targeted prevention strategies and improved surveillance systems to inform public health interventions.

Prevention Opportunities

Many fatalities are preventable through behavioral interventions, public education and occupational safety measures. Targeted prevention strategies should be developed for high-risk groups, specific animal species, and the regions most affected, particularly the Southern United States, where the burden of fatal encounters is highest.

Resources for prevention are widely available through the CDC, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Agricultural Health and Safety Centers, and Cooperative Extension Services.^{57 -61} These include materials on dog bite prevention, safe livestock handling, and horseback riding safety. Veterinarians play an essential role in guiding families on pet selection, particularly for homes with young children or immuno-compromised individuals and can provide education on safe human-animal interactions.

In regions and occupations with high rates of venomous encounters, especially stings from hornets, wasps, and bees, individuals with known Hymenoptera allergies should always carry an anaphylaxis kit containing epinephrine auto-injectors and wear medical identification (eg, bracelet or necklace) ⁶² Employers, particularly in agriculture, landscaping, and outdoor work settings, should ensure access to emergency response protocols and training on sting avoidance and symptom recognition. Both NIOSH and OSHA provide detailed guidance on reducing the risk of insect stings and snakebites, including the use of protective clothing, boots, gloves, and maintaining awareness in high-risk environments such as brush piles, barns, and irrigation ditches.^{63 -66}

Dog-related fatalities, which sharply increased after the COVID-19 pandemic underscore the need for improved community education and responsible pet ownership. Educational campaigns should promote supervision of dogs around children and older adults, early recognition of canine behavioral warning signs, and safe practices for approaching or handling unfamiliar dogs. These efforts should be incorporated into school health curricula, pediatric and family practice visits, and local animal control outreach, particularly in urban and suburban communities with high rates of dog attacks.

For individuals whose work or living environments involve frequent contact with wild or stray mammals, including animal control officers, agricultural workers, and wildlife rehabilitators, rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis is recommended, and tetanus immunizations should be kept current. ⁶⁷ Region-specific outreach should also be expanded through Cooperative Extension Services and agricultural safety networks to reinforce prevention strategies related to venomous arthropods, livestock, and feral animal risks. These targeted and actionable strategies could be developed for each region to help to reduce both fatal and nonfatal animal encounters, and targeted to the vulnerable populations and workgroups.

Limitations

This study has several limitations inherent to death certificate-based analyses. Use of underlying cause-of-death data may underrepresent the true burden of animal-related fatalities. Prior research estimates that up to 20% of such deaths may be missed using this method alone. ⁶⁸ In addition deaths from zoonotic infections and animal-vehicle collisions are excluded. CDC WONDER suppresses data for categories with fewer than 10 deaths, limiting species- and sex-specific analyses. Seventeen cases lacked species detail, and broad categories like “Other Mammals” hinder precise prevention efforts. Lack of information on victim activity at the time of death also restricts development of targeted safety strategies.

Conclusion

Between 2018 and 2023, there were 1604 recorded animal-related deaths in the U.S. Nonvenomous animals, particularly dogs and farm animals, were the most frequent culprits overall, while hornet/wasp/bee stings were the leading cause of venomous deaths. While the overall pattern of fatalities has remained relatively stable over time, the post-pandemic increase in fatal dog encounters is concerning and warrants public health attention. Simple prevention strategies, such as avoiding animal provocation, using personal protective equipment when handling animals, and ensuring that individuals with known sting allergies carry and know how to use epinephrine injectors, can significantly reduce the risk of fatal and nonfatal outcomes. Continued surveillance and improved data granularity are essential to inform targeted prevention efforts.