NATURE'S DANGEROUS CREATURES
BY DAN MILLER
September 5, 2006
The news that Steve Irwin had been killed came as a sad surprise on Monday.
Actually, what's really surprising is that his death was -- in fact -- such a surprise.
He was, after all, the Crocodile Hunter.
He wrestled crocodiles and alligators, routinely handled highly venomous snakes and reptiles, and put himself face to face with -- even gently taunted -- some of the planet's most dangerous creatures.
Upon hearing of his death, my immediate presumption -- probably yours too -- was that he died at the jaws of a mammoth crocodile.
But a sting-ray???
Goodness, those little creatures are considered friendly and passive.
Not long ago, I took the attached photo of my wife and daughter petting and feeding sting-rays at SeaWorld in Florida.
I went online to learn where sting-rays rank on the list of most dangerous land and sea creatures.
I found the usual suspects.... lions, hippos, elephants, snakes, white sharks, water buffalo, tigers, hyenas, jelly fish, spiders of all sorts, polar bears, grizzly bears.... yet, nowhere -- not on one single list -- did I find sting-rays.
They're simply not considered a significant danger to people.
Our house pets are far more likely to cause us injury and death.
Interestingly.... if you measure by harm done.... the most dangerous creature to humans -- by far -- can be found in astounding numbers here in Tennessee, and most other states.
Every year it's responsible for a million or more people dying worldwide.
It's the simple mosquito.
By spreading malaria, West Nile and other diseases, the common mosquito takes a terrible toll on mankind.
No other animal or reptile or insect comes close.
If Steve Irwin could say one more thing to us, I'll bet he'd tell us not to blame the sting-ray for his death.... it was, he'd insist, only doing what comes naturally.
And truthfully, if my family visits SeaWorld again, I'm certain we'll feed and pet the sting-rays just like we did before....
but if a mosquito lands on my arm, it will be smashed.
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