Wildlife & Encounters

The animals you'll meet in Missouri, and what to do

Missouri is a safe place to be outside. Bears, snakes, ticks, spiders, and deer each need a different habit. The deadliest animal here, by a wide margin, is a deer you hit with your car.

Two habits to remember

1. Don't feed, don't approach, give space, and secure your attractants. Nearly every bad wildlife outcome traces back to food — a fed animal is a bold animal, and a bold animal usually ends up dead.

2. Almost all native Missouri wildlife is generally protected — including every snake and every bat — so the rule is watch, don't touch. You generally can't kill it or keep it, with narrow exceptions: legal hunting and trapping seasons, an immediate safety threat, and some damage animals on your own property under MDC rules.

Part of the Missouri outdoors guides — see also Hunting, Fishing, Camping, and Off-roading. This hub is about animal encounters; to go watch wildlife on purpose, see Birding & Wildlife Watching.

Quick route

If you only need one minute

Start with the overview, use the fast answer when you are in a hurry, then use the agency page for the current detail.

First read
Get the overview
Start with the two habits that solve many animal problems.
Fast answer
Use the quick reference
Good when you need the animal, risk, and right contact in one place.
Agency source
Open MDC Wildlife ->
MDC carries species help, nuisance guidance, and wildlife contacts.

Do this now

If it's happening right now

Find your situation on the left. For a true emergency, call 911; for bite or poisoning guidance, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

If this is happening…	…do this now
A venomous snakebite	Call 911 or go to the emergency room. Keep the bitten limb still, in a neutral, comfortable position at or below heart level. Take off rings and tight clothing. Don't cut it, suck it, ice it, wrap it tightly, or use a tourniquet — and don't try to catch the snake. You can call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for guidance.
A bite, scratch, or saliva from a wild mammal	Wash the wound with soap and water for 10–15 minutes. Call a doctor AND your county health department — treat it as a possible rabies exposure.
A bat in a sleeping room, a child's room, or near someone who can't say for sure	Treat it as a possible rabies exposure. Call your county health department. If the bat can be contained safely, save it for testing — never with bare hands.
A tick bite plus fever, headache, or body aches	Call a doctor and mention the tick exposure. Tick-borne illness is very treatable when it's caught early.
An animal acting strangely (stumbling, aggressive, unafraid, or out at the wrong time of day)	Back away and keep people and pets clear. Report it to MDC, animal control, or your county health department.
A bear around your home	Secure your attractants — trash, bird feeders, pet food, grills. Report a bold or damaging bear to your MDC regional office.
A baby animal that seems alone	Leave it, unless it's clearly injured or you know the parent is dead. Its mother is almost always nearby. Call a permitted wildlife rehabilitator first.

The right number

Who to call

A medical emergency

911

Poisoning or bite guidance

Poison Control — 1-800-222-1222

A possible rabies exposure

Your doctor AND your county health department

A bear, mountain lion, or elk to report

Your MDC regional office or conservation agent

A nuisance animal in your attic or walls

An MDC-authorized nuisance wildlife control operator

Injured or orphaned wildlife

A permitted wildlife rehabilitator — call first

A feral hog sighting

MDC feral hog reporting

A deer crash

911 if there's an injury or it's blocking the road; law enforcement and your insurer as needed

Start here

New to it? Start here

Meeting Missouri's Wildlife: Start Here A calm overview, plus the golden rule for most animal encounters. Quick reference First moves for common encounters, plus the right number to call. What's new this year Current numbers — bears, ticks, mountain lions, CWD — and what hasn't changed (staying safe).

Big mammals

Bears, lions & snakes

Black bears about 1,100 and shy — food is the key. How to be bear aware at home and camp. Mountain lions & elk No breeding lion population; about 325 elk in the Ozarks. What to do if you meet one. Snakes five venomous of about 47 — all protected. How to tell them apart, and the first steps after a bite.

Everyday hazards

Ticks, spiders & the road

Ticks & the diseases they carry Missouri's most serious everyday hazard — and the habits that cut your risk a lot. Spiders Just two worth caution — the brown recluse and the black widow. ID and bite care. Deer on the road The deadliest animal in Missouri. The one rule that saves lives: don't swerve.

Around the home

Rabies, nuisance & rescue

Coyotes, raccoons, skunks, foxes & bats — and rabies The animals around your home, Missouri's rabies carriers, and the bat-in-the-room rule. Nuisance & damage wildlife What you can legally do on your own land — and the can't-touch list. Orphaned & injured wildlife That baby almost certainly isn't abandoned. Please leave it wild — and call first. Birds & oddities Eagles, geese, vultures, raptors, armadillos, feral hogs, and snapping turtles.

Wildlife questions people ask first

What is the most common wildlife danger in Missouri?

For many people, the everyday risk is on the road, especially deer collisions. Slow down in deer country, use extra care at dawn and dusk, and do not swerve into another lane or off the road.

Should I move an injured or baby animal?

Usually no. Many young animals are not abandoned, and handling wildlife can make things worse. Use the injured-wildlife guide and call the right agency or rehabilitator first.

What should I do after a bite or possible rabies exposure?

Treat it as a health question. Wash the wound, get medical advice quickly, and contact your local health department or emergency care if the situation is urgent.

Are Missouri snakes protected?

Yes, Missouri snakes are protected wildlife. Give them space, leave them alone when you can, and get medical care right away for a suspected venomous bite.

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