These Are the Most Dangerous Animals in Colorado

It's no secret that Colorado is home to stunning wildlife. However, that doesn't mean we should interact with the wildlife, despite how beautiful (and cute — pikas, anyone?) our state's animals are.

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From elk popping tires to mountain lions crashing into homes to moose charging hikers, it's clear that some wildlife is not meant to be messed with - some more than others out of all animals in Colorado.

OutThere Colorado reports that, in 2020 alone, the Centennial State saw nearly 5,000 interactions between humans and black bears — in the last 100 years, Colorado officials have recorded four fatal bear attacks.

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Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has repeatedly warned the public about the dangers of moose, elk, and deer, while we all remember the infamous 2019 mountain lion attack at Horsetooth Mountain.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that these incidents are the animals' fault. We're living in their territory, and it's up to us to stay out of their way. That's why it's so important to know which kinds of wildlife to avoid.

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Plus, it's crucial to be aware of wildlife that might not seem inherently dangerous. Unfortunately, we aren't living in Oz — there's not just lions, tigers, and bears to be concerned about (kidding...about the tigers).

So, to stay bear (and moose and snake and more) aware, check out the most dangerous animals in Colorado in the gallery below:

Want more Centennial State wildlife? See the 39 Colorado animals you may run into in the gallery below.