Maine Trivia: What Kind of State Doesn’t Have Indigenous Poisonous Animals Anyway?

Maine Trivia: What Kind of State Doesn’t Have Indigenous Poisonous Animals Anyway?

Oct 05

Maine is a beautiful state that is home to some of the best wildlife that you have ever seen. There are some extremely wild animals that call the state their home, including some very dangerous varieties.

However, whether you believe it or not, Maine doesn’t have any poisonous animals within its borders.

Once upon a time, there were reports that the timber rattlesnake lived within the region. However, the state is simply too cold to support the lifestyles of these reptiles and they seem to have all died off. In fact, the last known sighting of a timber rattler within Maine’s borders occurred in 1901.

No Snakes On This Maine

Maine does have several species of snakes within its borders. According to Maine’s Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, the common garter snake is the most frequently encountered snake in the state. Since the milk snake is so similar in color to the timber rattler and is often seen in the wild, residents may worry that the lack of poisonous snakes within Maine’s borders is simply a myth. However, this mild reptile uses its similarity to the timber rattler to protect itself and is unable to produce toxins.

Just because there are no indigenous poisonous animals in Maine doesn’t mean that campers and hikers don’t have to keep a sharp eye out when wandering the many forested areas within the state. Maine has a large moose population and after their young are born they will aggressively defend them. There’s more than a couple stories of moose chasing away curious adventurers who came just a little too close. If you didn’t already know – moose are really fast runners. So don’t try to take your chances with these animals as you’re most likely to lose.

The Maine Fish and Game Department does have some pretty good information on their website on the state’s native fauna so you can be aware of what you should do if you encounter one of them.

Shy Type Animals Still Linger

With its large acreage of natural areas, Maine supports a wide variety of predators on the ground and in the sky. While shy of humans, there are bobcats, Canadian lynx, and cougars roaming the hills. A population of gray wolves and coyotes hunts across the state, while the American eagle soars in the sky seeking its small prey.

On hiking trails, tourists are warned to be wary of the many black bear that make their home in Maine. While often touted as a less-dangerous bear (is there even such a thing?), black bears have been known to be particularly vicious when surprised. Hikers can stumble upon black bears in the wild and, if the bear happens to be a mom with her cubs, she is likely lash out to those who come too close. For this reason, it is often recommented to try to make your presence known when hiking in Maine’s woods; in this manner, the animal will be aware of your presence as you approach and will likely retreat to avoid conflict.

As the northern most state in the lower 48, Maine offers glorious vistas of natural areas and plenty of ocean front. Residents enjoy nature’s bounty without any worry that the animals they encounter will be poisonous.