Most Annoying Animals in Every State

Everyone likely has that one animal they can’t stand, and we’re here to share the ones that top the list in each state. While this lineup might not match everyone’s personal pet peeves, we’ve gathered the most loathed creatures from coast to coast. Love them or hate them, these critters are the champions of annoyance in the eyes of many.

Alligators

In Florida, alligators are among the most annoying visitors. They love basking in the sun and often enter people’s yards and gardens uninvited, though they rarely attack without provocation (442 attacks between 1948 and 2021). There’s a famous case where an alligator strolled into a supermarket, likely in search of fresh meat, before being swiftly removed. This isn’t an isolated incident, as Florida’s gator population exceeds 1,300,000.

Skunks

Good luck cleaning out the stink of skunk spray if one decides you’re a threat and you live in Tennessee. But besides their unbearable smell, they tend to wreak havoc in gardens and lawns in search of grubs and insects. Get rid of any leftover trash to stop them from visiting (though they do look soft and cuddly so maybe… No, best not to do that).

No-See-Ums

The rest of the US may not be familiar with no-see-ums (now that’s an accurate name) but Alaskans absolutely hate them. And that’s because these tiny insects leave itchy, painful bites. You can’t see the little devils because they’re very very tiny, so tiny in fact that their name reflects the fact that no matter how hard you look, you won’t be able to see them (but you’ll feel them). 

Ticks

A state like Maryland has 6 species of ticks and they pose a significant health risk as they are potential carriers of Lyme disease and other serious conditions. The biggest issue is the lack of ‘feel’ when they latch on. That’s why it’s so important to check your entire body after a hike because if it stays in you for at least 24 hours, the risk of infection increases. 

Palmetto Bugs

Palmetto bugs are essentially American cockroaches and are most common in South Carolina. These pests are particularly annoying because they’re large and fast, easily invading homes in search of food and moisture. And geez, the sight of a cockroach is not something you want in your home. Though they find us just as disgusting as we find them, but they don’t pay taxes so…

Roadrunners

The Roadrunner was a key character in Disney cartoons, outwitting the Coyote using various hilarious methods. But in real life, they are loud and fast. The biggest offenders seem to live in New Mexico, probably because they’re so sick of being chased by coyotes. And they must scream. Always.

June Bugs

June Bugs are common in the central and southern United States and especially Oklahoma (70+ species). They damage plants and are attracted to lights, which causes them to fly all the way to your home. Then they have a light party. There’s not much you can do to prevent them except turn off all your outdoor lights and live in darkness. 

Chiggers

Kansas has a large infestation of these mites, with over 45 species chowing down on humans. They live in grassy areas, forests, and gardens, especially in warm, humid climates. You can get rid of chiggers by keeping your lawn well-trimmed and, if things get hairy, using insect repellant.

Lovebugs

Lovebugs live in the southeastern US but mainly in Mississippi. They are notorious for splattering on car windshields and congregating in massive swarms during their mating seasons. Wash your car as soon as you get to your destination because splattered love bugs leave an acidic liquid behind that can damage car paint. 

Cockroaches

While Texas only has to fight 4 cockroach species, Hawaii has their work cut out for them with 19! Cockroaches can be a real nuisance and most people feel disgusted by them (rightly so). Seeing one crawl across the wall will push most people to stomp and squish the thing. Imagine how much stomping Hawaiians do for 19 species!

Scorpions

Scorpions are bothersome critters often found in arid regions like the Southwest and mostly in Nevada and Arizona. They can sneak into your home through tiny cracks, making their presence felt with painful stings. And don’t call scorpions spiders, they don’t like that and will poke you extra hard with their stinger.

Prairie Dogs

Prairie dogs live primarily in grasslands and in states such as Wyoming and Colorado. They create extensive burrow systems that can damage lawns and gardens. If there’s anything that prairie dogs love doing, it’s digging. They’re relentless. One day, you may wake up and see that your yard has become a vast construction site with a Chief prairie dog leading the dig. 

Seagulls

While the sight of seagulls may remind you of a breezy beach day, their constant squawking can be a major annoyance, just ask the people of California and Massachusetts. Seagulls are intelligent and cheeky and have a knack for swiping food and tearing into garbage bins. They also like to poop on people. That’s not very respectable behavior. 

Nutrias

Nutrias, or coypu, are large rodents that thrive in wet habitats like swamps, marshes, and riverbanks of Oregon and Louisiana. They burrow into levees and banks, which leads to soil erosion. Nutrias also have orange teeth that they use to gnaw on everything because, like most rodents, their teeth never stop growing. Dentists would love them as clients. 

Raccoons

Raccoons are opportunistic creatures and they’ll gladly go through your trash just for a bite of apple or leftover snacks. These masked intruders look and walk clumsy, but the people in Ohio, Alabama, and Georgia don’t really find them all that amusing. Waking up in the morning to find all your trash spread out across the yard must be the worst way to start the day. 

Canada Geese

No, Canada geese aren’t blessed with Canadian hospitality because truthfully, these geese can be very annoying. The three ‘I’ states (Idaho, Iowa, and Illinois) are packed with them, often making trouble for the populace. There’s a reason why the goose in the ‘Untitled Goose Game’ is a bit of a jerk.

Squirrels

Squirrels may be cute and cuddly-looking but they’re an absolute nuisance for a garden. The populace of five US states finds them most annoying: Nebraska, Arkansas, Indiana, New York, and Rhode Island. Imagine trying to attract nice birdies to your neighborhood and these little rascals decide to raid the bird feeders, packing the equivalent of an infinite number of seeds into their cheeks. 

Mosquitoes

Are they tiny, yes! Are they annoying, absolutely! Mosquitoes are arguably the most hated insect on the planet, and as far as US states are concerned, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Vermon, Maine, and Delaware are their biggest haters. They have a habit of buzzing around your ears when you go to sleep and they can also spread diseases like Zika or West Nile virus. 

Deer

Utah, Montana, both Dakotas, Michigan, Missouri, Kentucky, both Virginias, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, and New Hampshire agree that deer are the most annoying animals in the US. But how can that be true when they’re supposed to be cute and lovely? Oh, that’s right—because they love to trespass and assault people while in heat, and they’ll happily munch on your entire garden. They can be bullies and jerks.

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