A close encounter with any one of Nicaragua’s Top Five deadliest animals could ruin your whole day…or make it your own personal, ”end of days.”
Fifth place in our countdown goes to the one- inch long Bullet Ant, which despite it’s diminutive size, carries the most painful sting of any insect.
People who have had the misfortune to be stung by this little terror report that the pain can be compared to being shot by a bullet. The pain is instant, intense, and does not fully subside for a period of nearly 24 hours, and multiple stings can be fatal.
Found in the lowland tropical rain forests of the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua, these non-aggressive ants build their nests under ground, and only attack when threatened.
So when you are hiking through the rain forest, and looking up at the beautiful forest canopy, don’t forget to watch where you step, or you could end up as a permanent part of the forest floor.
Chomping it’s way into fourth place in our top five countdown is the American Crocodile, which at up to 15 feet long and 450 pounds in weight, is one bad boy that you don’t want to meet face to face.
Found along the Rio San Juan, and the Rio Frio in the South of Nicaragua, these large predators can be found basking in the sun along the low river banks.
Excellent ambush predators, the primitive-looking reptiles are seldom aggressive unless approached, but can, and will kill and eat humans if an opportunity presents it’s self.
American Crocodiles are officially listed as an Endangered Species, but be careful, because if you get too close to one of these, you may be the one who ends up being extinct.
Swimming straight out of your nightmares, and into the third spot in our countdown of deadliest animals is the Bull Shark. Coming in at 11 feet long and over 500 pounds, this is a real heavy-weight contender, with a mouthful of teeth and a bad attitude.
One of the the only species of shark which can live in both salt and fresh water, these apex predators are solitary hunters, and frequent shallow waters near shore, where a majority of their prey is found.
These aggressive sharks are probably responsible for the majority of shark attacks on humans world wide, and attack without provocation.
Bull Sharks can be encountered at any time day or night, but prefer to feed between the hours of dusk and dawn when their acute senses of smell and vibration give them the biggest advantage. A midnight swim under the silvery moon may just put you on the menu for this hungry man eater.
Slithering into second place in our countdown is the extremely dangerous Tropical Rattlesnake. Measuring up to 5 feet long, and possessing highly toxic venom, this irritable pit viper will strike with little or no warning.
Inhabiting sandy areas, plantations, and dry hillsides in the Western half of the country, this notorious killer is responsible for many bites and deaths in humans.
Their venom contains both neurotoxic and hemotoxic components, which paralyze the central nervous system, and cause massive tissue damage. Bites from these deadly snakes must be treated as soon as possible to avoid horrible tissue loss or death.
Most Tropical Rattlesnake bites occur in areas far from medical attention, and death is a very real possibility. Be careful where you step, or you too, could end up as another grizzly statistic is this reptiles long list of victims.
Number one in our countdown of Nicaragua’s deadliest animals is the Fer De Lance, known by many as the “ultimate pit viper”, and accounts for nearly 50 percent of all snakebites in the country.
Weighing up to 13 pounds, this large, aggressive snake occupies a wide range from the Atlantic lowlands to the Eastern shores of the Lake of Nicaragua, and is frequently found near human habitations.
Found near cultivated land and farms, this highly dangerous viper comes into contact with humans during it’s nightly hunt for rodents, which are it’s favorite prey. Humans attract rats, this snake eats rats, and thus, you have a perfect prescription for a confrontation, with a potentially deadly result. So if you awake in the still of the night, turn on the light before you step. Or you may be found in the morning…as cold and still as the night.
This completes our Countdown of Nicarugua’s Top Five Deadliest Animals. But remember, that all places on our planet harbor similar threats to life and limb, and your best defense is knowledge. Plan ahead and stay alert, and who knows? You just may be around long enough for another little adventure in tropical America
1. Banks are by far the safest and most secure places for money transactions with ATM’s located inside the bank. Couple this with the ever present armed guards who are there to protect the bank, as well as you and your money, you are as safe as you can be anywhere.
At 20 square miles, this nearly unspoiled extinct volcano has a small year round population and is the second largest island in the lake.
The most tropical volcanic islands in the lake, this archipelago is covered in tropical vegetation, and home to many species of beautiful tropical birds.
