goblin211 From United States of America, joined Jun 2010, 1209 posts, RR: 0 Posted (2 years 1 week 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1112 times:
This si for Australians only since I am planning a trip to australia and would like to know how often do these encounters with all your deadly creatures happen? everything from the rattlesnakes in the Outback to the blue ringed octopus. Especially the box jellyfish and iricanji! I'd like to go swimming in your beautifuol beaches and Great Barrier Reef but I don't want to die for it. I'm sure this is just me overreacting but please indulge me.
GSPflyer From United States of America, joined Jul 2010, 351 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (2 years 1 week 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1093 times:
I have been to Australia twice before, while I don't know the full chances of encountering many of the creatures you mentioned, I didn't (knowingly) encounter any of them in the 6 weeks I spent there (with about 2 of those being in the Outback). I know that if you go during Southern Hemisphere Winter (the months of May through September) your chances of encountering a Box Jelly are very slim.
Edit: I would like to add to that, I had a surf instructor who said he had been surfing off the Australian coast for around 20 years and had never seen a shark.
This si for Australians only since I am planning a trip to australia and would like to know how often do these encounters with all your deadly creatures happen? everything from the rattlesnakes in the Outback to the blue ringed octopus. Especially the box jellyfish and iricanji! I'd like to go swimming in your beautifuol beaches and Great Barrier Reef but I don't want to die for it. I'm sure this is just me overreacting but please indulge me.
Ok seriously chill out. This would be like an Australian being worried about coming to the US and freaking out because everybody is a gun-slinging-trigger-happy-hillbilly that lives in a trailer park.
EasternSon From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 660 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (2 years 1 week 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1063 times:
I encountered a Brown Snake on a nature walk just outside Byron Bay. When I told a local what I had seen, he was skeptical it was actually a Brown, because he had never seen one before. I'm pretty sure it was though.
During many dive/snorkeling trips to various reef destinations, the most I ever saw in the water was a black-tipped reef shark. He was only about 4ft long, and swam away from me very, very quickly.
A snorkeling guide told us that a tourist on another boat had been stung by an irukandji jellyfish the season before. But I suspect that he just wanted to make sure we kept our stinger suits on while in the water.
"The only people for me are the mad ones...." Jack Kerouac
Starbuk7 From United States of America, joined Apr 2008, 590 posts, RR: 5 Reply 7, posted (2 years 1 week 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 1003 times:
I have been to Australia twice and never encountered a deadly creature, however, here in San Diego while riding my bike around the local lakes in the summer you might encounter a rattlesnake sunning itself on the trail that goes around the like but if you leave it alone it will leave you alone.
goblin211 From United States of America, joined Jun 2010, 1209 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (2 years 1 week 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 943 times:
Yeah, I kind of suspected the nature documentaries were exaggerating but I wanted people who've been there to tell me. I look forward to my trip. Thanks, has anyone been stung/injured by one of the creatures I mentioned above or know anyone who has?
FingerLakerAv8r From United States of America, joined May 2011, 259 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (2 years 1 week 1 day ago) and read 855 times:
My buddy went to Australia a while back and saw nothing and told us all the horror stories we heard were overblown. Two weeks later he was hiking in the woods south of Hammondsport, NY and gort bit by a Eastern Timber Rattlesnake.
There are no rattlesnakes (nor, as far as I know, Pit Vipers of any kind) in Australia. The only time I ever saw the late Steve Irwin act genuinely scared was when he was mucking about with rattlesnakes during a trip to the US.
aerorobnz From Rwanda, joined Feb 2001, 6325 posts, RR: 14 Reply 15, posted (2 years 1 week 1 day ago) and read 842 times:
I've had hippos lions and hyenas in the wild campsite I was staying at, but it really isn't something to worry about even when I met them going for a piss in the middle of the night.. Of course that wasn't in Australia, but I've only ever seen one brown snake while I've been there, and it's really not an issue. Most animals only attack if actively threatened, unless they see you as prey - which most don't. Jellyfish are the indiscriminate ones - they just sting you for being in the wrong place.
take precautions, but don't be paranoid. Things like stinger suits are wise when diving but they don't prevent against ignorance, incompetence or even plain bad luck.
You have have plenty of other things to worry about before you worry about animals - after all there are 20 million people in Australia, your odds are far in favour of you being massacred in downtown sydney than being ripped up by a great white.
Springbok747 From Australia, joined Nov 2004, 4387 posts, RR: 13 Reply 16, posted (2 years 1 week 23 hours ago) and read 825 times:
Geez..do you honestly think this country is like a zoo with dangerous creatures crawling all around? People live here..you know
I have seen one brown snake in 20 years. Its not common at all and they avoid human contact..but then again, you should watch out in summer, and use common sense. Same applies to diving in the Reef. If you use a proper dive company the guides will know what is and isn't dangerous. Keep your stinger suit on and you'll be fine.
Quoting PlymSpotter (Reply 6): Your Mother in Law visits that infequently? Excellent!
AR385 From Mexico, joined Nov 2003, 4843 posts, RR: 28 Reply 17, posted (2 years 1 week 22 hours ago) and read 799 times:
Please, nodoby take offense, this is not a US bashing post.
Goblin 211 have you considered that:
1.Bubonic plague is endemic in the Southwestern US and you can get it by having a rat in your house?
2. Hanta virus is pretty much alive and expanding from its original territories in the US?
3. You own pet cat, mizifuz, if it is an outdoors fella can bring diseases into your house the Discovery Channel won´t even air?
4. You can get Chagas disease by walking outdoors under certain type of trees?
5. You can go to a hospital in the US for a simple podology problem and die of MRSA?
6. Next time you taste the potato salad at your local church social function think "E-Coli."
7. You have a garden? you walk barefoot? Think about flesh eating bacteria entering your foot through the small superficial laceration you got by stubbing your toe the night before.
8. Highly resistant Antibiotic TB is endemic in the US prison popultaion. Think about every single innmate released daily.
Do you think he´ll follow his 10 month antibiotic course? Careful when someone coughs in your direction.
9.You live in the outskirts of LA? I heard in recent years the cougar population has killed hikers and mountain bikers.
10. Is there a pond near your house? Careful when you swim, you could get nasal amoeba, which usually go to your brain. 98% fatal.
10. You have a small bite you don´t know where it came from? Rabies is a bad way to go.
11. Enjoy hikes in Montana? Nowadays the Grizzly bear population is more dangerous, agressive and hungry due to changes in weather, lack of proper hibernation and loss of habitat.
12. The highest number of shark attacks a year takes place in Florida.
13. You like golf? Stay away from pond traps in golf courses in Florida, Louisana and parts of Georgia. Some big lizards they got there.
My point is: Wherever you go, even in your own backyard, you run the risk of encountering dangerous, lethal wildlife. I believe it is a bit unfair to single out Australia. Even here in my house, no matter how safe the water supply is, my mother boils it religiously. Even when the stench of chlorine filsl my entire bathroom when I shower. Twicea month at least I have to deal with scorpions. They can be lethal.
And for your information, rattlesnakes are among the least aggressive of snakes. They will only attack you if they feel imminently threatened. And long before that, you will hear, well, the rattle. Just walk away from that sound, in a direction that makes it in more inaudible the more steps you take. There are other snakes that are much more aggresive and will strike without provocation. But you seem to be worried about rattlesnakes.
Pretty uncommon if you're not actively seeking them out
In the 23 years I've lived in Australia i've only come across two wild venomous snakes an Eastern Brown Snake on the footpath of a Brisbane zoo 13 years ago and a Dugite on Rottnest Island 3 years ago.
It as important if you ever do come across a snake it is important to give it space and leave it alone DO NOT TRY TO KILL IT (THIS IS HOW MOST PEOPLE GET BITTEN) If you ever find yourself too close for comfort stay dead still and let it move on it's own accord. Australia also has a very good antivenin program on average there are only 1 or 2 fatal snakebites most of the these were drunk, tried to pick the snake up and didn't seek medical attention. It might surprise you that the world's most venomous terrestrial snake the Inland Taipan hasn't caused a single reported fatality.
Also you won't find many rattlesnakes or any other vipers in Australia it's Pythons (non venomous), Colubrids (non deadly) and Elapids (watch out for these ones) only.
Jellyfish season is October - May if your in Northern Australia it is not wise to go swimming during this period unless there are Nets out although it's important to note that the Jellyfish nets only keep Box Jellyfish out due to their size the Irukandji can still get though although the beaches will get closed if a single Irukandji is spotted in the area.
Another thing to look out for in Northern Australia is Saltwater Crocodiles these are very common in Northern Australia and despite their name these are just as comfortable in Freshwater as they are in Saltwater. Don't swim after sunset or in murky water.
"There you go ladies and gentleman we're through Mach 1 the speed of sound no bumps no bangs... CONCORDE"
Flyingfox27 From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2007, 403 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (2 years 1 week 21 hours ago) and read 771 times:
On my trips to South Africa the only wildlife i encounter that might be dangerous are Baboons, its amazing that herbivores are sometimes more common and deadly than the usual suspects such as crocs or snakes, the predators usually warn you or run away, they only strike as a last resort, after all, their venom is needed for their next food item.
Quoting Flyingfox27 (Reply 19): On my trips to South Africa the only wildlife i encounter that might be dangerous are Baboons, its amazing that herbivores are sometimes more common and deadly than the usual suspects such as crocs or snakes,
Baboons are omnivores, they will pretty much eat anything coming their way. If they are really hungry will go out and hunt small animals.
Baroque From Australia, joined Apr 2006, 15380 posts, RR: 60 Reply 22, posted (2 years 1 week 13 hours ago) and read 701 times:
Nicely taken AR385!!
Quoting goblin211 (Thread starter): This si for Australians only since I am planning a trip to australia and would like to know how often do these encounters with all your deadly creatures happen?
Depends what you mean by deadly! If that is animals that cause death, certainly all over the place. While our snakes and spiders, octopi and sharks would like to do a better job, right at the head of causes of death by animals is HORSES! We have lots of them.
She who must be obeyed is certain we have a brown snake in our garden. I prefer to think it is just one of the usual black snakes. Aside from the pythons almost all our snakes are poisonous. True they are not vipers or cobras, they are an entirely different group with groove rather than hollow fangs. These are not nearly as good for injecting poison. So these disadvantaged little beasties have compensated by having more of a more toxic venom compared with the hollow fangs. And just to make sure, when they bite, they tend to chew a bit to allow the poison better access. And the death adder does warrant its name.
However, when in Australia, watch out for the horses.
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