Even in the land of the brave, everyone’s afraid of something.
Whether it’s spiders, heights, or the big sleep, a new survey has revealed what gives Americans in each state the heebie-jeebies.
In 17 states, including New York, Florida, Texas, Nevada, and California, the Grim Reaper is the biggest fear, according to the gambling website Casino.ca, which surveyed 3,000 Americans earlier this month.
A fear of heights took second place nationwide, haunting eight states, including Ohio, Georgia, and Oklahoma.
Snakes slithered into third place as the biggest fear in six states, including Maine, Nebraska, and Utah.
Tied for fourth place on the country’s list of prime frights are enclosed spaces — like New Jersey, which makes sense, given its population density — and public speaking the top fear of Wisconsinites, Kansans, and Iowans.
Failure and spiders tied for No. 5.
Montana was the only state where ghosts and spirits reign supreme as the biggest scare.
Overall, only 3% of the 3,000 Americans surveyed claimed to be completely fearless.
The survey did not include Alaska, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont or Wyoming, as results from those states were “insufficient.”
Most respondents said the scariest Halloween activities are playing with a Ouija board, followed closely by late-night graveyard visits and haunted house strolls.
The study also found the average American thinks about their biggest fear around four times a week.
