As much as we love Northern California, we have to admit there are a few risks that go along with living in this part of the golden state. I mean, with a Mediterranean climate we do have our fair share of mosquitoes every once in awhile. Plus, there’s that awful dry heat that can make even the softest complexion feel like a saltine cracker. But, there are seriously a few other things you definitely need to know about.

Here are the biggest risks we face living in Northern California.

  1. California Brown Bear

flickr/princess lodges The California grizzly is one of the state’s most visible and enduring symbols - both on the state flag and seal. AKA: Brown bears, they’re pretty much only found on our state flag now. It’s the black bears who are in high numbers around Yosemite…300-500 approximately.

  1. Rattlesnakes

flickr/ben stephenson Almost all forests and hills in Northern California are known to have a few of these. The drier the heat, the more their number. We’re not a fan.

  1. Boating Accidents

flickr/john mundy According to California waterway stats from 2012, Lake Shasta holds the record in 2012 for most deaths on a northern california lake at 32.

  1. Angry Drivers

flickr/sean macentee Since we’re terrible lane-sitters and horrible drivers who refuse to put our phones down, we stand the risk of making other folks around us extremely angry. Am I right?

  1. Dangerous Roads

flickr/richard masoner Since we’re on the topic of bad drivers, let’s talk about even worse roads up here. Hwy 17 gets our biggest shout out. Then there’s Highway 299, Shasta County: Most of the 45 miles from Redding to Weaverville is a pain, but the 10-mile stretch from west of Whiskeytown Lake to Buckhorn Summit will put the fast and loose into a ditch or off the side. Just no way to do it fast, but every day, someone tries.

  1. Mountain Lions

flickr/nathan rupert These cats on steroids definitely exist out here. They’re nocturnal and climb trees with much ease. Their cry sounds like that of a woman and will send a shiver down your spine. Their home is anything within a 100 mile radius. Yeah, they get around.

  1. Being fined during the drought.

flickr/susan catherine weber Sure, you might not be at great risk for a mountain lion attack, but you’re in great risk for being fined for using too much water around here. You’d better make sure your yard looks as dead as this one to avoid a citation.

  1. Agressive Panhandling

flickr/franco folini San Francisco is battling a huge problem with panhandling. Their homeless community is growing exponentially and many are known to be very aggressive with the public. Count on it.

  1. Mortuary Canyon - Monterey

Though beautiful, the currents are very strong. An experienced diver is in danger there, so a casual beachgoer has virtually NO CHANCE of survival if caught in a riptide. The ocean side of the beach goes very steeply straight down to the bottom of the Monterey Marine Canyon, 9600 feet. Um, we’ll pass.

  1. Trader Joe’s is ALWAYS crowded.

flickr/ barbara ln Good luck finding a parking space out front. Unless you get up with the sun you stand the risk of never parking out front.

  1. Bay to Breakers Race

flickr/bauhtik joshi Drive through San Francisco in May and you stand the risk of running into a real crazy show. Started as a way to lift the city’s spirits after the disastrous 1906 San Francisco earthquake, it is the longest consecutively run footrace in the world. You stand the risk of scarring your kids for life letting them watch this one. Better to stay home and watch cartoons instead.

  1. Apple Hill - Camino

flickr/sean’s fotos Take your kids during the fall season and you risk the chance of driving to glorious Camino every year for the rest of your living day. It’s that awesome.

  1. Yes. Donuts.

flickr/janice cullivan Head over to World’s Faire Donuts in Hayward and you risk hating every other donut experience. We promise.

Share a few of the risks you have to overcome to living in northern California.  We’d appreciate the warning!

flickr/princess lodges

The California grizzly is one of the state’s most visible and enduring symbols - both on the state flag and seal. AKA: Brown bears, they’re pretty much only found on our state flag now. It’s the black bears who are in high numbers around Yosemite…300-500 approximately.

flickr/ben stephenson

Almost all forests and hills in Northern California are known to have a few of these. The drier the heat, the more their number. We’re not a fan.

flickr/john mundy

According to California waterway stats from 2012, Lake Shasta holds the record in 2012 for most deaths on a northern california lake at 32.

flickr/sean macentee

Since we’re terrible lane-sitters and horrible drivers who refuse to put our phones down, we stand the risk of making other folks around us extremely angry. Am I right?

flickr/richard masoner

Since we’re on the topic of bad drivers, let’s talk about even worse roads up here. Hwy 17 gets our biggest shout out. Then there’s Highway 299, Shasta County: Most of the 45 miles from Redding to Weaverville is a pain, but the 10-mile stretch from west of Whiskeytown Lake to Buckhorn Summit will put the fast and loose into a ditch or off the side. Just no way to do it fast, but every day, someone tries.

flickr/nathan rupert

These cats on steroids definitely exist out here. They’re nocturnal and climb trees with much ease. Their cry sounds like that of a woman and will send a shiver down your spine. Their home is anything within a 100 mile radius. Yeah, they get around.

flickr/susan catherine weber

Sure, you might not be at great risk for a mountain lion attack, but you’re in great risk for being fined for using too much water around here. You’d better make sure your yard looks as dead as this one to avoid a citation.

flickr/franco folini

San Francisco is battling a huge problem with panhandling. Their homeless community is growing exponentially and many are known to be very aggressive with the public. Count on it.

Though beautiful, the currents are very strong. An experienced diver is in danger there, so a casual beachgoer has virtually NO CHANCE of survival if caught in a riptide. The ocean side of the beach goes very steeply straight down to the bottom of the Monterey Marine Canyon, 9600 feet. Um, we’ll pass.

flickr/ barbara ln

Good luck finding a parking space out front. Unless you get up with the sun you stand the risk of never parking out front.

flickr/bauhtik joshi

Drive through San Francisco in May and you stand the risk of running into a real crazy show. Started as a way to lift the city’s spirits after the disastrous 1906 San Francisco earthquake, it is the longest consecutively run footrace in the world. You stand the risk of scarring your kids for life letting them watch this one. Better to stay home and watch cartoons instead.

flickr/sean’s fotos

Take your kids during the fall season and you risk the chance of driving to glorious Camino every year for the rest of your living day. It’s that awesome.

flickr/janice cullivan

Head over to World’s Faire Donuts in Hayward and you risk hating every other donut experience. We promise.

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