Living in Mississippi is awesome; there’s no question about that, but there are some risks associated with life in Mississippi. From severe weather to native wildlife, here are some of the biggest risks and most dangerous things in Mississippi that residents must put up with. Many people agree that these are some of the worst things about Mississippi.

1. Hurricanes
Kelly Garbato/Flickr
Living in Mississippi, you’re bound to face a hurricane sooner or later. And while they’re not all as serious as Camille and Katrina, the risk is still there.
2. Tornadoes
Tales from the South/Flickr
Speaking of inclement weather, tornadoes are also a pretty common occurrence in Mississippi.
3. Heat Exhaustion
J3SSL33/Flickr
Between the sweltering heat and even more uncomfortable humidity, heat exhaustion is a possibility.
4. Spiders
Paul Lewin/Flickr
Mississippi is home to a number of species of spiders, including the venomous brown recluse, black widow, and brown widow.
5. Snakes
Tom Spimker/Flickr
Both poisonous and non-poisonous snakes call Mississippi home, which means keeping an eye out for the slithering reptiles is a must.
6. Mosquitoes
John Tann/Flickr
Okay, mosquitoes may not be poisonous, but between the size and tenacity of Mississippi mosquitoes, they're definitely more than just an annoyance.
7. Fire Ants
Leo Reynolds/Flickr
These little guys may not seem too bad....that is until you’re being bit by what seems like hundreds. And while the bites are mostly a nuisance, some people are highly allergic.
8. Deer
Scott Lipsey/Flickr
At first glance, deer may not seem like too much of a threat, but several automobile accidents can be attributed to the four-legged animals unexpectedly running out into the road.
9. Wild Hogs
Flickr/Don McCullough
Venturing into the woods? Running into one of these huge creatures is a possibility. Aside from being a danger to humans, wild hogs are also known to destroy wildlife habitats and crops.
10. Coyotes
Jitze Couperus/Flickr
The woods of Mississippi are home to these guys, who not only pose a threat to humans but to small animals as well.
11. Chupacabras
webquest-esu.wikispaces.com
And since we’re talking about coyotes, it only seems fair to mention the chupacabra. The mythical creature made headlines just a few years ago when it was allegedly spotted in Mississippi; however, many believe that the animal was just a coyote with mange.
12. Alligators
Frank Kehren/Flickr
There’s not a Mississippi town named Alligator for nothing! These scaly reptiles call the state home, and are apparently eating well because, in 2013, two alligators weighing in excess of 700 pounds were caught in the same day in Mississippi!
13. Falling in Love
Steven Martin/Flickr
Lastly, and probably the most likely to occur, those living in Mississippi run the risk of falling completely in love with the state and never wanting to leave. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

What are some other potential risks that come along with living in Mississippi? Can you think of any other dangerous things in Mississippi? If you weren’t already a resident, would any of the risks mentioned above keep you from moving to Mississippi? Tell us!

The above list might include some of the worst things about living in Mississippi; however, the good far outweighs the bad. And to prove it, we compiled a list of the best things about life in Mississippi.

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Living in Mississippi

Daniella DiRienzo | July 15, 2022

What are the best things about living in Mississippi?

Some of the best things about living in Mississippi include:

  • Beautiful small towns
  • Comfort food
  • Quaint shops
  • Beautiful natural scenery

 

There are so many good things about living in Mississippi. For starters, there’s the state’s low cost of living and low cost of higher education. Plenty of comfort food is another perk of living in Mississippi. Countless restaurants throughout the state serve up home-cooked favorites, like hamburger steak, greens, and, of course, fried chicken and fried catfish. It’s nearly impossible to say which restaurants serve up the best comfort food in the state; however, there are a couple that have received some impressive accolades over the years, including The Old Country Store and Taylor Grocery.

What are the worst things about living in Mississippi?

Some of the worst things about living in Mississippi include:

  • Low access to care
  • Poor healthcare quality in some areas
  • Public health factors
  • High health care cost
  • Longer than average ER wait time.

 

Just like any other state, there are some bad things about living in Mississippi. One of the worst things about residing in the Magnolia State is the sweltering summers. Between high temperatures and immense humidity, the season is practically unbearable. Poor healthcare is another con of living in the Magnolia State.

What unique words and phrases do people in Mississippi say?

Southern words and phrases, such as “y’all” and “bless your heart,” are just the tip of the iceberg. There’s a whole slew of unique words and phrases people in Mississippi say, including “finer than frog’s hair" and “jeat yet," just to name a few.

A big part of living in Mississippi is learning the language. Most would assume that Mississippians speak English; however, anyone who’s been in the Magnolia State for an extended period of time knows that residents have a language all their own.

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