Oregon has deserts, lush woods, and more. Black bears, snakes, mountain lions, elk, and coyotes are all dangerous on the ground, but what’s above? Find Oregon’s most deadly wild creatures!
Are Oregon Skies Dangerous?
Not many animals may hurt humans in Oregon’s skies, but there are a few. So let’s explore the dangerous animals in Oregon’s skies that can harm us:
Bees
They play a vital role in pollination and the food chain. Without them and other pollinators, poor harvests would lower our quality of life. Bees may be dangerous but vital.
Bee stings pain and swell, but they can kill an allergic person. Bees only sting when necessary. They don’t hunt, but if you sit on one or it gets stuck in your clothes, it may sting in self-defense. Oregon’s Bee Project reports 700 bee species, therefore bee allergies should be avoided.
Wasps
Oregon has hornets and yellow jackets. Yellow jackets have brilliant yellow and black stripes, while brown hornets are duller. Wasps, like bees, pollinate and eat crop-damaging insects. Mostly found in social nests, these flying insects can produce painful stings, swelling, and allergic reactions. An aggressive wasp can sting many times if you disturb a nest. They become more aggressive in autumn as the colony dies.
Bats
Oregon’s night sky is home to fifteen different bat species that fly in search of food at 20-30 mph across the region. Some species hibernate in Oregon the whole winter, while others migrate to warmer states.
Bats use echolocation to find moths, mosquitoes, midges, and other small flying insects to consume. A few bat species devour thousands of pest insects each night!
Bats are not violent, but the Oregon Health Authority says they can carry rabies. Humans shouldn’t handle ill or injured bats that may bite in self-defense.
Rabies is slow-moving. The brain receives it weeks or months before flu-like symptoms arise. Common symptoms include delerium, disorientation, hallucinations, and waterphobia. Animals and people rarely survive it unless treated before symptoms appear. A doctor must test any bat bite, ideally with the biting bat.
Mosquitoes
Oregon is home to many mosquitoes, which are irritating but not hazardous. However, mosquitoes can spread West Nile Virus, a dangerous disease. West Nile Virus causes flu-like symptoms and occasional encephalitis.
Just female mosquitoes suck blood to feed their eggs protein. In Oregon, mosquito bites can be prevented by insect repellent, long-sleeved clothes (particularly at night), and yard water removal.
A Horse Fly
Horse flies bite horses and humans painfully. They usually bother livestock, although their cutting bite hurts and swells people. Sometimes bites infect or trigger allergies.
The biting insect doesn’t numb a region before drinking blood like clever mosquitoes. Instead, its serrated mandibles shred skin and absorb blood. Only female horse flies swallow blood during mating to reproduce. Males eat floral nectar.
Horseflies are most frequent in summer, and while they’re not the most deadly animal in Oregon’s skies, hordes of biting horseflies can stress horses and cows.
Biting Midge
Small biting midges are hard to spot. In Oregon, this flying pest first appears as unpleasant, itchy bites. Midge clouds can give dozens of bites quickly because to their density.
Dusk and sunrise are peak times for these little insects. Midges love swamps, but yard ponds and riversides are also good. Long sleeves, trousers, and bug repellent provide the best protection from itchy bites.
Oregon’s Most Dangerous Flying Animal?
Oregon skies are generally safe today. An allergic bee or wasp or a disease-carrying mosquito may be the most harmful flying animal.
Not so for Oregon’s flying predators’ prey. The fastest animal on earth, a peregrine falcon, plucks and eats its prey alive, and the awe-inspiring great horned owl, who seems fearless, are Oregon’s most hazardous flying wildlife.