Lovely yet deadly, Idaho is like the femme fatale of the US. If you’re at all skittish, squeamish, or would prefer to let Idaho kill you while your back is turned, just LIKE, SHARE, and walk away now. You’ll thank me later. If you’re of the curious sort and want to know what Idaho has up its sleeve besides beautiful mountains and country fresh air, please keep reading. You’ll thank me too. Although be warned — you know that ol’ saying about cats and curiosity…
Take a gander at our state’s most deadly attributes and activities.
- Cows… Oh, the irony.
John Haslam/Flickr Idaho’s cattle population skyrocketed after mutton went out of style at the beginning of the 20th century, and statistics show that cow fatalities are much, much more likely than shark attacks or lightning strikes on a global scale. While that still may not sound like you have much to fear, one look at this face is enough to make you think twice about cow-tipping, yes? And by cows, I don’t just mean bulls – the ladies are equally aggressive when it comes to trample stampeding. Don’t mess with the cattle, bruh.
- Landslides, rockslides, and avalanches. Because Idaho geology can be just as deadly as its livestock.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr Idaho is rather fortunate weather-wise when it comes to tsunamis, tornadoes, and active threats coming from a skyward direction. So of course, our geologic landscape has to confront us directly to even the playing field.
- Riding in the back of a pickup.
Jamie D/Flickr Look, I’m not saying you should and I’m not saying you shouldn’t. I’m just saying that this is how we roll in Idaho, and statistically it isn’t the safest (or most legal) way to commute.
- Brown Recluse spiders. Because there’s nothing scarier than 8 legs running at you at full gallop.
Wikimedia Commons Sorrysorrysorry… I know this is a family website and that this little guy is the last thing you want to see. But he’s dangerous, and since I don’t want you to have a face-to-face showdown with one, it helps to remember that they have 6 eyes, and that their most recognizable feature is their gangly, outwardly extended legs. There are other, more recognizable traits of course, but if you’re close enough to see them, you’re too close, period. Their bites aren’t actually fatal, but if you’re feeling dangerous, you can Google what a Brown Recluse bite actually looks like. It’s not pretty.
- Black Widows: the original femme fatales.
Steve/Flickr Black Widows are perhaps the most easily recognized of all spider species, but also one of the most dangerous… at least the females are. Their concentrated venom is far more toxic and damaging than that of their male counterparts, causing muscle pain, spasms, and a racing heart.
- Bacon
cookbookman17 Heart disease is the number one killer across the nation, and while there is certainly no single source, fried foods and bacony goodness definitely play a role. And boy do we love our bacon here! I mean, we love all meat. But bacon is just so good.
- Roadkill – dangerous in more ways than one.
Tim & Stacy Fisher/Flickr With winding roads, numerous wildlife crossings, and large game areas, Idaho is a hotspot for car vs. animal fatalities and collisions. Idaho also recently ruled that roadkill is now legal to salvage and eat if so desired – but only with the proper permit. While we don’t highly recommend roadside meals, just be cautious of potential diseases as those can be just as deadly as the collision itself. But we thought actual photos might be a little too disturbing. so Instead enjoy this adorable photo of a fluffy snow bunny. You’re welcome. But beware – it’s a killer.
- THIS ancient poisonous plant, used to kill Socrates in 399 BC.
Ann Althouse/Flickr Poison Hemlock and Water Hemlock are two of Idaho’s most toxic and noxious weeds. Oddly enough, they also have varying toxicity levels – Poison Hemlock is more poisonous during sunny weather and in its infancy, and the roots are more dangerous than the plant itself. When Water Hemlock is cut, the root exudes a yellow, oozy juice that contains the toxin; ingestion causes frothing at the mouth, violent convulsions, slowing of the nervous system, and usually death.
- Death Camas… Because Idaho’s beautiful foliage is a trap, apparently.
Wikimedia Commons/BLM The name says it all. Death Camas will ultimately cause death by coma and/or paralysis if ingested.
- Angry Geese
Dustin Hoffman/Flickr Idaho’s Canada Geese are huge, unafraid, and rather intimidating on all accounts. Mess with one, and they’ll come together to mess you up with an angry, honk-filled flogging you won’t soon forget.
- Our love of adrenaline-pumping, dangerous activities… like whitewater rafting.
Social Geek/Flickr
- And rock climbing.
Rob Baird/Flickr
- And base jumping.
yipiekia/YouTube
- But really, bad decisions are what’ll kill you here.
Albert Mock/Flickr
Agreed? What do you think is the biggest danger in Idaho?
John Haslam/Flickr
Idaho’s cattle population skyrocketed after mutton went out of style at the beginning of the 20th century, and statistics show that cow fatalities are much, much more likely than shark attacks or lightning strikes on a global scale. While that still may not sound like you have much to fear, one look at this face is enough to make you think twice about cow-tipping, yes? And by cows, I don’t just mean bulls – the ladies are equally aggressive when it comes to trample stampeding. Don’t mess with the cattle, bruh.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Idaho is rather fortunate weather-wise when it comes to tsunamis, tornadoes, and active threats coming from a skyward direction. So of course, our geologic landscape has to confront us directly to even the playing field.
Jamie D/Flickr
Look, I’m not saying you should and I’m not saying you shouldn’t. I’m just saying that this is how we roll in Idaho, and statistically it isn’t the safest (or most legal) way to commute.
Wikimedia Commons
Sorrysorrysorry… I know this is a family website and that this little guy is the last thing you want to see. But he’s dangerous, and since I don’t want you to have a face-to-face showdown with one, it helps to remember that they have 6 eyes, and that their most recognizable feature is their gangly, outwardly extended legs. There are other, more recognizable traits of course, but if you’re close enough to see them, you’re too close, period. Their bites aren’t actually fatal, but if you’re feeling dangerous, you can Google what a Brown Recluse bite actually looks like. It’s not pretty.
Steve/Flickr
Black Widows are perhaps the most easily recognized of all spider species, but also one of the most dangerous… at least the females are. Their concentrated venom is far more toxic and damaging than that of their male counterparts, causing muscle pain, spasms, and a racing heart.
cookbookman17
Heart disease is the number one killer across the nation, and while there is certainly no single source, fried foods and bacony goodness definitely play a role. And boy do we love our bacon here! I mean, we love all meat. But bacon is just so good.
Tim & Stacy Fisher/Flickr
With winding roads, numerous wildlife crossings, and large game areas, Idaho is a hotspot for car vs. animal fatalities and collisions. Idaho also recently ruled that roadkill is now legal to salvage and eat if so desired – but only with the proper permit. While we don’t highly recommend roadside meals, just be cautious of potential diseases as those can be just as deadly as the collision itself. But we thought actual photos might be a little too disturbing. so Instead enjoy this adorable photo of a fluffy snow bunny. You’re welcome. But beware – it’s a killer.
Ann Althouse/Flickr
Poison Hemlock and Water Hemlock are two of Idaho’s most toxic and noxious weeds. Oddly enough, they also have varying toxicity levels – Poison Hemlock is more poisonous during sunny weather and in its infancy, and the roots are more dangerous than the plant itself. When Water Hemlock is cut, the root exudes a yellow, oozy juice that contains the toxin; ingestion causes frothing at the mouth, violent convulsions, slowing of the nervous system, and usually death.
Wikimedia Commons/BLM
The name says it all. Death Camas will ultimately cause death by coma and/or paralysis if ingested.
Dustin Hoffman/Flickr
Idaho’s Canada Geese are huge, unafraid, and rather intimidating on all accounts. Mess with one, and they’ll come together to mess you up with an angry, honk-filled flogging you won’t soon forget.
Social Geek/Flickr
Rob Baird/Flickr
yipiekia/YouTube
Albert Mock/Flickr
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