Animal Bites in America: The Shocking Real Numbers

If you thought one million animal bites per year sounded like a lot, brace yourself: the actual numbers are far more staggering. Modern data reveals that more than 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs alone each year, with total animal bites—including cats, bats, raccoons, and other wildlife—pushing the figure to an estimated 2 to 5 million incidents annually.

That old "one million" statistic? It's decades out of date, a relic from a time when tracking methods were less sophisticated and reporting was spotty at best.

Dogs Lead the Pack

Dogs account for the overwhelming majority of animal bites in the United States. Of those 4.5 million annual dog bites, approximately 800,000 to 885,000 people seek medical care, including trips to emergency departments, urgent care centers, and physicians' offices. Emergency departments alone treat around 395,000 dog bite victims each year—that's roughly 1,082 people every single day, or 45 per hour.

Even more concerning: 2024 saw a record-breaking 127 fatal dog attacks, the highest number ever recorded in a single year, representing a 174% increase over just five years.

The Financial Bite

Animal bites aren't just a public health crisis—they're an economic one. In 2024, insurers paid out $1.57 billion for dog-related injury claims alone, with the average claim reaching $69,272. That's an 18% jump from the previous year, reflecting both the severity of injuries and rising medical costs.

Beyond Dogs: The Wild Card

While dogs dominate the statistics, cats and wild animals add thousands more bites to the annual tally. Rabies remains a concern, with approximately 1.4 million Americans receiving healthcare evaluation for possible rabies exposure each year. Thanks to aggressive prevention efforts—including vaccinating pets and administering post-exposure prophylaxis to around 100,000 people annually—fewer than 10 Americans die from rabies each year.

• Bat bites are particularly dangerous due to their small teeth marks, which can go unnoticed
• Raccoons, skunks, and foxes account for most wildlife rabies cases
• Cat bites, though less frequent, are more likely to cause serious infections due to their sharp, deep-penetrating teeth

Who's Most at Risk?

Children are disproportionately affected by animal bites, particularly dog bites. Young kids are more likely to be bitten on the face and head due to their height, while adults typically sustain bites to the hands and arms. Males are bitten more frequently than females, and most bites occur from dogs the victim knows—either their own pet or a neighbor's dog.

The data paints a clear picture: animal bites are far more common than most people realize, and the problem appears to be getting worse, not better. Those old estimates of "one million bites per year" weren't just outdated—they were off by a factor of four to five.