Top 10 Most Annoying Animals in The World List (With Pictures)

Domestic Pigeons
Photo: Frédéric Bisson / Flickr / CC BY 2.0.

Most people will tell you that they’re fond of animals. After all, they’re not only cute, but they’re more important for ecology than us. However, there are many species of animals that aren’t quite as lovely as your everyday horse or dog. There are some animals that instantly raise the question: “What’s the purpose of this species?”

Here are 10 of the most annoying animals in the world:

  • Untrained Dog
  • Owls
  • Hyenas
  • Mosquitos
  • Ants
  • Domestic Pigeons
  • Seagulls
  • Flies
  • Stink Bugs
  • Macaque Monkey

* Note: animals are ranked in order of their search volume. 

1. Untrained Domesticated Dog

Untrained Domestic Dogs
Photo: Jim’s Photos / Flickr / CC BY-NC 2.0

Scientific name: Canis familiaris

Dogs are probably the most beloved animals on the planet and it’s not without reason that we call them “man’s best friend”. However, the behavior of a dog depends vastly on the behavior of their owner. Because of this, it’s not odd to see a dog that misbehaves whenever you give it a chance and they can easily become an annoying animal.

Whether it’s charging and attacking other dogs, urinating all around or even biting people, some dogs are very poorly trained. This makes living with them hell, and it’s usually all the fault of the owner, not the dog itself.

This can also take a more dangerous turn as these dogs can start behaving dangerously and start putting people and other dogs in danger. This is the exact reason why veterinarians and professional breeders keep reminding us that dog training is crucial for a dog owner!


2. Owls

Owl
Photo: Farid Fleifel / Flickr / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Scientific name (order): Strigiformes

Owls are animals that many people don’t encounter at all throughout their life, but those who do know why they can be annoying. This is especially common if you live in a wooded area or at least near a forest. Owls emit a very loud, piercing hoot.

This call can be so loud it easily wakes people from sleep and it can really be the most annoying sound to put up with. Another thing is persistence – some owls hoot for hours on end. Males owls are usually louder, more persistent and their hoots are longer than female hoots.

Even though they’re a great solution for vermin and many pests, if you have an owl living in your backyard, chances are you’re going to have to call animal control. These birds are terribly loud, and the worst thing about it is that they’re nocturnal animals.

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Not only are they loud and annoying, but they’re usually hooting during the night. 


3. Hyenas

Hyena
Photo: Tambako the Jaguar / Flickr / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Scientific name (family): Hyaenidae

You’re unlikely to encounter a hyena unless you live in Africa and some places in the Middle East. There, however, they’re very common and natives know exactly why they’re annoying.

Firstly, hyenas are meat-loving vultures. They love eating animal carcasses and they’re not afraid of stalking humans. They rarely stalk people to attack them, instead, they’re going to try and steal food from hunters! Because of its persistence, the hyena is one of the most irritating animals.

Secondly, if it comes down to it, a pack of hyenas will try to attack and eat a person. This is very rare though, as they’re usually timid.

Lastly, hyenas have a very distinct, very disturbing call. It’s impossible to mistake a hyena for any other animal because of this call and it almost sounds like they’re mocking someone. 


4. Mosquitoes

Mosquito
Photo: Sanofi Pasteur / Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Scientific name (family): Culicidae

There are almost 3600 species of mosquitoes around the world, but they all deserve the title of the most annoying insect in the world. It’s also quite possible that this is the most annoying animal in the entire world too. This isn’t only for the most obvious reason.

Mosquitos are known to bite people and suck blood. This is relatively harmless for you, but that bite is going to leave an itch behind that can last for days. This is reason enough to hate them, but there’s more.

Mosquitos are also carriers of many diseases, most notably malaria, yellow fever and the West Nile virus. In their bite, they’re transferring organisms (viruses and parasites) from person to person, while they don’t show any symptoms of the illnesses themselves.

So, not only are mosquitoes annoying, but they can be very dangerous too! This is why there are vaccination protocols in place when traveling to exotic countries that have a large population of mosquitos.


5. Ants

Ant
Photo: Sancho McCann / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0

Scientific name (family): Formicidae

There are an estimated 22 000 species of ants around the world, but they all share one quality – they’re gatherers. While admirable, ants know no boundaries when it comes to gathering things that they might eat.

These little workers aren’t afraid of coming into your house to grab some food and drag it back to their colony. Even if you drop so much as a few bread crumbs on the floor – ants are likely to show up. Because of this, exterminator interventions regarding ants aren’t uncommon.

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This annoying small animal can also get into our clothes with ease and it can be very difficult to get them out!

Most ants aren’t dangerous to humans though. There are some species with toxins that are potentially dangerous for us in large doses, but those ants usually live in exotic locations.


6. Domestic Pigeons

Domestic Pigeons
Photo: Frédéric Bisson / Flickr / CC BY 2.0.

Scientific name: Columba livia domestica

Pigeons are definitely some of the most aggravating animals in the world, and the reason is twofold. Firstly, we all know that pigeons have the tendency to defecate without any consideration for people walking below them.

This is usually more than enough to ruin your day, but what people don’t know is that pigeons can be dangerous too. Some vets call them “flying rodents” as they’re often carriers of disease and pests.

This doesn’t apply to pigeons that people keep home as pets, but wild pigeons that fly over our heads every day. It’s not uncommon for a pigeon to transfer a parasite or a virus to a human or another animal.


7. Seagulls

Seagulls
Photo: Konstantinos Dafalias / Flickr / CC BY 2.0.

Scientific name (family): Laridae

Most people don’t think of seagulls as troublesome birds – and those people probably didn’t encounter them in their true form. For anyone living near a sea or an ocean, it’s a well-known fact that seagulls can become ferocious in a matter of seconds.

These birds won’t stop at nothing if they see a fish – even if it’s yours. It’s very common for a seagull to attack a human to try and snatch a piece of food from their hands. Having this in mind it’s not a stretch to call them an annoying animal.

Seagulls also spend a lot of time near humans, stalking us, because they know that we leave food behind. Their annoying quacks, similarly to the owl, are there essentially all the time. Also, if you live by the shore, you know that they’ll start calling before dawn strikes, waking you up with ease.

An additional danger is crashing into plane engines, potentially causing a lethal catastrophe!


8. Flies

Fly
Photo: Matt Marsh / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

Scientific name (order): Diptera

There are probably more than a million species of flies, but they’re all as bothersome as they come. Flies deserve a special place on this list! Not only are they going to invade your home and refuse to leave until you kill them, they’re also a major threat to your hygiene.

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Even though they’re so small and it’s difficult to notice – flies are very filthy animals. This isn’t a surprise though, since feces are some of their favorite foods. Because of this, flies are often carriers of disease.

They’re noisy, buzzing around your head, and they don’t give up until you slap them to death. They’re also more than willing to contaminate your food by landing on it – after which you might as well throw it away.

Possibly the worst thing about these little devils is that they spread and mate at incredible rates.


9. Stink Bugs

Stink Bug
Photo: Mark Moschell / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Scientific name (family): Pentatomidae

Stink bugs are less aggressive towards humans than flies, but they’re no less of an annoying animal. These insects will gladly move into your home (free of charge) to survive the winter. If that doesn’t sound too bad, know that there can be hundreds of them around your home.

While they aren’t too interested in humans, stink bugs will often fly around with no apparent goal in mind – smacking right into you. The worst is yet to come, as their name refers to the disgusting and potent smell they emit if they feel in danger.

So, if you so much as touch a skin bug, they’re going to release this smell. This is why you should never touch them with your bare hands. Use some paper instead. The smell can’t be washed away with water and soap – the only thing that removes it is time.


10. Macaque Monkey

Macaque Monkey
Photo: Jamie McCaffrey / Flickr / CC BY-NC 2.0

Scientific name (genus): Macaca

A lot of people find monkeys cute, but these small annoying animals are nothing of the sort. Monkeys from the Macaca genus can become very aggressive without any apparent remorse. They get like this if they even suspect that you have any food on you.

It’s possible that you’ve never heard of these monkeys, but the people of Southeast Asia, all through Japan, China and even Morocco definitely know how dangerous these monkeys can be.

They’re going to gladly attack you if they think you have any food on you, which is why people often have to fight them. They’re also often found attacking farmer markets and stealing from the stands. Because of that, this monkey is one of the most inhospitable species on this list! 


Summary

To sum up, a lot of annoying animals on this list are insects, as you can see, and that’s not without reason. Animals that can get into our homes easily and irritate us in the smallest of ways are often the least popular ones. But it’s also not odd to have a particularly annoying dog in your neighborhood, constantly attacking anyone walking by.

In most cases, except for the hyena, these animals are harmless and they’re only a nuisance – but that doesn’t mean that this can’t escalate, which is why you should always stay away if possible.

James Ball

James has had a lifelong passion for animals and nature, tracing back to his childhood where he first began fostering intimate knowledge and connection with pet frogs and snakes. He has since honed this interest into a career as a trained Wildlife Biologist, specializing in Biogeography, sustainability and conservation. In addition to his professional pursuits, James maintains an active lifestyle, regularly indulging in outdoor activities such as hiking, and musical pursuits like playing piano and swimming.

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