Un-BEAR-lievable: Daytona Beach Resident Faces off Against a Black Bear

Welcome to Daytona Beach Florida, where the laws of nature seem to also take a vacation. Sure the beaches are a sight to see, but how about those bears? Who would've thought that a peaceful day in Daytona Beach could turn into a showdown with a furry antagonist straight out of a warped Disney movie? But hey, this is Florida we're talking about.

According to WESH, It was a peaceful evening last year, when a man named Walter Hickox was minding his own business on his porch. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a black bear decided to crash the party. Now, you might think that Walter would panic, run for cover, or maybe even faint dramatically like a damsel in distress. But no, not Walter. This brave soul had only one thing on his mind, protecting his dog.

He wasn't thinking about his own safety or the fact that he was face-to-face with a massive bear. All that mattered was ensuring the safety of his furry friend. In a move that would make any action hero proud, Walter sprang into action. He shielded his dog from the bear! Not today, Yogi Bear!

When asked about his heroic act, Walter nonchalantly shrugged it off. "Not a lot went through my head at the moment," he said, as if being attacked by a bear was just another walk in the park. He only had one concern. What if that bear decided to waltz into his house where his wife and other dogs were waiting? I mean, can you imagine the chaos? A bear in the living room, knocking over furniture, rummaging through the pantry like Goldilocks on steroids. It's a sitcom waiting to happen.

Luckily, Walter's dog emerged unscathed from this classic encounter. So, rest assured, the dog was safe. And if there's one thing we've learned from this story, it's that in Florida, even the animals have a knack for causing trouble.

Well, that got my attention. Whether you're here in Florida visiting, or a long time resident, you need to know that Florida has dangers. Sure, we've got our share of fluffy bunnies and squirrels, but Florida animals can kill.  Also, an honorable mention to the wild monkeys near Ocala that have the deadly herpes B virus. No one in Florida has died from that - yet.

Let’s face it, there’s a lot of things down here trying to kill you. There’s 6 venomous snakes in Florida, and only 2 of them were deadly enough to make this list. Deaths from these animals are rare, but not zero. I personally think you're more likely to be injured by a New York snowbird driving into you in a Publix lot. I kid, I kid. I'm only singling out New York because ya'll are terrible drivers. Nothing personal. The left lane is for passing.

Did I ever tell you about the time a guy with Jersey plates wanted to fight me at the car wash in Estero? He had all his floor mats out and was vacuuming his truck so I pulled in the wash bay in front of him. I just wanted to wash off some dirt. He stormed up and was ready to fight because "that's not how you do it." Sorry, I'm getting sidetracked.

Ranker put together a list of  the most dangerous animals here in Florida. Florida Man is a lot more dangerous than any of these animals, but we've covered that extensively. So here we go, with 14 animals in Florida that can kill you.

Did you know? Box jellyfish kill more people each year than sharks. A sting from a box jellyfish can stop your heart. More than 8 different species have caused deaths. And they're not just here in the tropics. They've even, on occasion, made their way up to New Jersey where I'm sure someone guy probably tried to fight it.

I know someone that had multiple brown recluse spider bites on her arm and into her armpit. She didn’t die but it suuuuuuuuuucked. Necrosis, fever, vomiting are all likely symptoms. 

You normally you won’t die if you get bit by one of these, but are you ready to take that chance? One time I was at a transmitter site and opened a panel to find a black widow nest waiting inside. Momma and all her babies.  I don’t help with engineering anymore. Nope.

It’s called a rattlesnake for a reason, it’ll rattle it’s tail to let you know you need to move on. If unheeded, this snake has an incredible painful bite. If you don’t get help immediately, you can die. Painfully.

You knew there’d be a shark on this list. Big and aggressive, they cruise the coast of Florida. They're generally not looking to bite humans but you know, things happen.

Class, this is what’s know as an Apex predator. Top of the food chain. More and more often we’re seeing these beasts on the golf course. Don’t wanna get eaten? Stick to Top Golf. I took this picture in the Everglades from an air boat. Was it smart to stop an airboat on shore next to an alligator? Probably not, but this is Florida. 

Look at how that thing blends in with the leaves – watch your step. Interesting fact, this snake will generally give you a warning strike with little or no venom. The second bite though… Strangely enough my cat does the same thing. 

It sounds friendly enough, except that the “kiss” is actually a bloodsucking bite. Not fun. But that’s not really where the real danger is. These bugs transfer a parasite that transmits Chagas, which may lead to fatal cardiac arrest.

Yes, as in “Jaws”. Like old people from New York, they come down here in the winter for the warmer climate. Fortunately they don't have cars. 

I’ve been bit by fire ants many times, it’s not fun. Fortunately for me after the first couple of bites I’m smart enough to get out of the grass. If you’re allergic, or even if you get enough bites, your body can swell up to the point where you suffocate. The best way to avoid this is to stay inside and play video games. I've probably killed millions of these things in my yard over the last decade. But there's always more. 

Super sharp teeth and don’t normally attack humans. These things can swim up to 35 mph (OMG!) and if something shiny catches their eye, like a necklace on a swimmer, they might accidentally attack.

If you live in a rural area down here, you’ve seen these things. They are mean, and will attack. The best part? They’re full of diseases and bacteria – including anthrax. I knew a guy in North Fort Myers that spotted one but didn't have his gun. So he killed it with a screwdriver. North Fort Myers people are different. 

True story, that picture was taken in Charlotte County. There’s actually no reported deaths in Florida from panther attacks, although they have been know to take down livestock. No human deaths in Florida, don’t want to be the first.

If they do attack, they tend to maul rather than kill. So, maybe scarring and horrible disfigurement? Black bears live in the rural areas and are quite known to sift through trash and if you leave pet food outside – you may get a new pet. These things are why people in Golden Gate have to be careful where they put their trash cans. 

Be sure to check out the companion piece: The 6 venomous snakes of Florida