The Hazard Map · A field guide to the dangerous yard

Know before it's nine on a Sunday

Pick your state to see the outdoor hazards near you: what's out there, when each one is most active, and the warning signs that mean a same-night emergency visit.

Full ranking of all 50 states (text version)

Hazard score (0–100) across 121 confirmed outdoor hazards, each weighted by severity with the six hazard types weighted equally: toxic plants, foxtail grasses, venomous snakes, scorpions, toxic amphibians, and toxic mushrooms. Presence is confirmed occurrence (USDA PLANTS, GBIF); toxic plants are a year-round risk.

  1. #1 California — hazard score 67 out of 100; 68 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 7, scorpions 4, toxic amphibians 6, foxtail grasses 5, toxic mushrooms 16, toxic plants 30); riskiest window Apr–Jul.
  2. #2 Texas — hazard score 56 out of 100; 69 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 12, scorpions 2, toxic amphibians 7, foxtail grasses 4, toxic mushrooms 6, toxic plants 38); riskiest window May–Jun, Sep.
  3. #3 Arizona — hazard score 51 out of 100; 50 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 11, scorpions 3, toxic amphibians 4, foxtail grasses 5, toxic mushrooms 6, toxic plants 21); riskiest window Jul–Aug.
  4. #4 New Mexico — hazard score 48 out of 100; 48 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 9, scorpions 3, toxic amphibians 4, foxtail grasses 4, toxic mushrooms 6, toxic plants 22); riskiest window Jul–Aug.
  5. #5 North Carolina — hazard score 47 out of 100; 70 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 5, scorpions 2, toxic amphibians 5, foxtail grasses 3, toxic mushrooms 12, toxic plants 43); riskiest window Jun–Aug.
  6. #6 Pennsylvania — hazard score 47 out of 100; 67 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 3, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 4, foxtail grasses 5, toxic mushrooms 13, toxic plants 42); riskiest window May, Jul–Sep.
  7. #7 New York — hazard score 45 out of 100; 68 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 3, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 4, foxtail grasses 4, toxic mushrooms 14, toxic plants 43); riskiest window May, Jul–Aug.
  8. #8 Oregon — hazard score 44 out of 100; 51 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 2, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 4, foxtail grasses 5, toxic mushrooms 13, toxic plants 27); riskiest window May–Jul.
  9. #9 Washington — hazard score 44 out of 100; 50 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 2, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 4, foxtail grasses 5, toxic mushrooms 13, toxic plants 26); riskiest window Apr–Jun, Aug.
  10. #10 Illinois — hazard score 44 out of 100; 59 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 4, scorpions 1, toxic amphibians 4, foxtail grasses 4, toxic mushrooms 11, toxic plants 35); riskiest window Apr–May, Aug–Sep.
  11. #11 Utah — hazard score 43 out of 100; 47 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 5, scorpions 2, toxic amphibians 3, foxtail grasses 5, toxic mushrooms 5, toxic plants 27); riskiest window Jun.
  12. #12 Ohio — hazard score 43 out of 100; 66 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 4, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 5, foxtail grasses 4, toxic mushrooms 10, toxic plants 43); riskiest window Jul–Aug.
  13. #13 New Jersey — hazard score 43 out of 100; 61 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 2, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 4, foxtail grasses 5, toxic mushrooms 10, toxic plants 40); riskiest window Jul–Sep.
  14. #14 Florida — hazard score 42 out of 100; 64 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 8, scorpions 3, toxic amphibians 5, foxtail grasses 1, toxic mushrooms 7, toxic plants 40); riskiest window May–Jun.
  15. #15 Maryland — hazard score 42 out of 100; 63 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 2, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 4, foxtail grasses 4, toxic mushrooms 12, toxic plants 41); riskiest window Jul–Sep.
  16. #16 Georgia — hazard score 42 out of 100; 70 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 7, scorpions 1, toxic amphibians 5, foxtail grasses 2, toxic mushrooms 10, toxic plants 45); riskiest window May–Jun.
  17. #17 Massachusetts — hazard score 41 out of 100; 63 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 2, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 5, foxtail grasses 4, toxic mushrooms 10, toxic plants 42); riskiest window May, Aug–Sep.
  18. #18 South Carolina — hazard score 41 out of 100; 61 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 6, scorpions 1, toxic amphibians 5, foxtail grasses 3, toxic mushrooms 9, toxic plants 37); riskiest window Jun–Sep.
  19. #19 Oklahoma — hazard score 40 out of 100; 51 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 7, scorpions 1, toxic amphibians 5, foxtail grasses 4, toxic mushrooms 4, toxic plants 30); riskiest window Apr, Jun–Jul.
  20. #20 Virginia — hazard score 40 out of 100; 64 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 3, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 5, foxtail grasses 3, toxic mushrooms 11, toxic plants 42); riskiest window Apr–May, Jul–Sep.
  21. #21 Tennessee — hazard score 39 out of 100; 61 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 4, scorpions 1, toxic amphibians 4, foxtail grasses 2, toxic mushrooms 12, toxic plants 38); riskiest window Apr, Jun–Sep.
  22. #22 Missouri — hazard score 39 out of 100; 55 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 5, scorpions 1, toxic amphibians 4, foxtail grasses 3, toxic mushrooms 8, toxic plants 34); riskiest window Apr, Jun.
  23. #23 Alabama — hazard score 38 out of 100; 64 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 7, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 5, foxtail grasses 2, toxic mushrooms 9, toxic plants 41); riskiest window May–Jul, Sep.
  24. #24 Idaho — hazard score 36 out of 100; 38 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 2, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 3, foxtail grasses 5, toxic mushrooms 9, toxic plants 19); riskiest window May–Jul.
  25. #25 Colorado — hazard score 36 out of 100; 40 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 2, scorpions 1, toxic amphibians 3, foxtail grasses 4, toxic mushrooms 9, toxic plants 21); riskiest window May–Aug.
  26. #25 Mississippi — hazard score 36 out of 100; 56 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 6, scorpions 1, toxic amphibians 5, foxtail grasses 2, toxic mushrooms 6, toxic plants 36); riskiest window May–Aug.
  27. #27 Michigan — hazard score 35 out of 100; 57 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 1, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 4, foxtail grasses 2, toxic mushrooms 15, toxic plants 35); riskiest window Jul–Sep.
  28. #27 Nevada — hazard score 35 out of 100; 28 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 5, scorpions 2, toxic amphibians 3, foxtail grasses 5, toxic mushrooms 1, toxic plants 12); riskiest window Apr, Jun–Aug.
  29. #29 Kansas — hazard score 35 out of 100; 49 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 6, scorpions 1, toxic amphibians 5, foxtail grasses 2, toxic mushrooms 7, toxic plants 28); riskiest window Apr, Jul.
  30. #30 Arkansas — hazard score 34 out of 100; 53 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 6, scorpions 1, toxic amphibians 4, foxtail grasses 2, toxic mushrooms 6, toxic plants 34); riskiest window Jun–Jul, Sep.
  31. #30 Connecticut — hazard score 34 out of 100; 57 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 2, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 4, foxtail grasses 3, toxic mushrooms 9, toxic plants 39); riskiest window Aug.
  32. #32 Indiana — hazard score 34 out of 100; 54 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 3, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 4, foxtail grasses 3, toxic mushrooms 9, toxic plants 35); riskiest window Aug.
  33. #33 Louisiana — hazard score 33 out of 100; 55 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 6, scorpions 1, toxic amphibians 5, foxtail grasses 1, toxic mushrooms 6, toxic plants 36); riskiest window Apr, Jun.
  34. #33 Maine — hazard score 33 out of 100; 45 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 1, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 2, foxtail grasses 4, toxic mushrooms 9, toxic plants 29); riskiest window May, Aug–Sep.
  35. #35 Montana — hazard score 32 out of 100; 37 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 2, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 2, foxtail grasses 5, toxic mushrooms 6, toxic plants 22); riskiest window Jun.
  36. #36 New Hampshire — hazard score 32 out of 100; 50 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 0, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 4, foxtail grasses 3, toxic mushrooms 9, toxic plants 34); riskiest window May, Aug.
  37. #37 Delaware — hazard score 32 out of 100; 52 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 1, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 4, foxtail grasses 3, toxic mushrooms 7, toxic plants 37); riskiest window Sep.
  38. #38 West Virginia — hazard score 31 out of 100; 57 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 2, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 4, foxtail grasses 1, toxic mushrooms 13, toxic plants 37); riskiest window Jun–Sep.
  39. #39 Kentucky — hazard score 30 out of 100; 54 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 4, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 4, foxtail grasses 2, toxic mushrooms 7, toxic plants 37); riskiest window Jun–Sep.
  40. #40 Wyoming — hazard score 30 out of 100; 33 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 3, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 2, foxtail grasses 4, toxic mushrooms 7, toxic plants 17); riskiest window Jun–Jul.
  41. #41 Wisconsin — hazard score 28 out of 100; 46 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 2, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 2, foxtail grasses 2, toxic mushrooms 11, toxic plants 29); riskiest window May, Aug–Sep.
  42. #42 Minnesota — hazard score 27 out of 100; 42 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 1, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 2, foxtail grasses 2, toxic mushrooms 12, toxic plants 25); riskiest window May, Jul.
  43. #43 Iowa — hazard score 27 out of 100; 44 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 3, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 4, foxtail grasses 2, toxic mushrooms 6, toxic plants 29); riskiest window Jun–Jul.
  44. #44 Nebraska — hazard score 26 out of 100; 39 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 4, scorpions 1, toxic amphibians 2, foxtail grasses 2, toxic mushrooms 3, toxic plants 27); riskiest window Jul.
  45. #45 Vermont — hazard score 23 out of 100; 45 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 1, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 2, foxtail grasses 1, toxic mushrooms 9, toxic plants 32); riskiest window Aug–Sep.
  46. #46 Rhode Island — hazard score 21 out of 100; 43 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 0, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 3, foxtail grasses 1, toxic mushrooms 6, toxic plants 33); riskiest window Aug–Sep.
  47. #47 Alaska — hazard score 18 out of 100; 17 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 0, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 2, foxtail grasses 2, toxic mushrooms 7, toxic plants 6); riskiest window May–Aug.
  48. #48 South Dakota — hazard score 17 out of 100; 28 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 2, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 2, foxtail grasses 2, toxic mushrooms 1, toxic plants 21); riskiest window Jul.
  49. #49 North Dakota — hazard score 15 out of 100; 26 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 1, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 1, foxtail grasses 2, toxic mushrooms 1, toxic plants 21); riskiest window Jun–Aug.
  50. #50 Hawaii — hazard score 14 out of 100; 21 outdoor hazards found (venomous snakes 0, scorpions 0, toxic amphibians 1, foxtail grasses 2, toxic mushrooms 2, toxic plants 16); riskiest window Apr–May.