What is the Most Dangerous Animal in Indiana?

Two different sources say that two very different animals are the most dangerous in Indiana. Which one do you think is more deadly?

Here in Indiana, we have a lot of wildlife. Some are cute and harmless, while others are feared and dangerous. I'm sure that we can think of a few potentially dangerous animals. Snakes, bees, wasps, yellow jackets, ticks, mosquitoes, coyotes, bobcats, and spiders are a few examples of these animals that could cause harm to us in some way. However, some of those cute and seemingly harmless animals could be dangerous too. That being said, what is Indiana's most dangerous animal? Well, two arguments suggest two different animals are the most dangerous in the state.

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Indiana's Most Dangerous Animal: Exhibit A

Explored Planet took a deep dive and looked at the most menacing creatures in America and came up with The Most Dangerous Animal In Each State. The website used data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to compile this list. According to Explored Planet, the most dangerous animal in Indiana is one of those cute animals that are deceptively dangerous. Deer. We here in Indiana have a huge problem with deer, mainly because they cause several automobile accidents throughout the state.

That makes complete logical sense to me. A deer is dangerous due to all of the deer/car collisions in the state, not because they are overly aggressive or venomous. However, another source suggests that there is a different animal that happens to be the most dangerous in the Hoosier State.

Indiana's Most Dangerous Animal: Exhibit B

The 2026 report from World Population Review revealed the most dangerous animal in each state. According to the report, snakes make up the single largest category nationwide, with several species of rattlesnakes topping the list in multiple regions, including Indiana.

World Population Review used a report from A-Z Animals to find each state's most dangerous animal. When it comes to Indiana, the eastern copperhead is our most dangerous animal. While the study doesn't give us any insight into data as to why it's the most dangerous, A-Z Animals does say:

A deadly animal in Indiana is the eastern copperhead. This snake species is venomous and is mostly found in the southern part of the state. Bites though are rare. The last fatal eastern copperhead bite in Indiana was recorded in 1931.

So, it's more rare to be bitten by an easter copperhead than to get into a collision with a deer, yet it's still somehow more dangerous? I'm a little confused about that part, but at the same time, I can see why the potential threat of a bite from one of those snakes is more deadly than a deer.

So which animal would you say is the most dangerous in Indiana?