I am moving to Australia...are there any poisonous animals i need to watch out for?

Question

Im not anticipating being lost in the Outback... but I was just curious if there were any i would run into

Answer 1

let's see - you will be preyed upon by real estate agents, politicians, lawyers, car salespersons and employment agencies/employers. all other animals, birds, snakes, jelly fish are mild compared to them!

Answer 2

There are some which come in the usual guise of snake, jellyfish, spiders etc. The best approach is to be guided by the local people in the immediate vicinity.
No body anticipates being lost in the Outback but it does happen. Once again, talk to the local people and follow their suggestions.

Answer 3

There are no poisonous animals in Australia but there are many venomous ones. Let us, however, put things into perspective.

Australia has the ten most venomous snakes in the world but it doesn't have any of the deadliest snakes. The deadliest snake is a viper from India and Sri Lanka which kills 50 people per million per year. All Australian snakes are responsible for 0.13 deaths per million per year. Australian snakes get out of your way when they hear you coming. Most people bitten are trying to kill the snake.

There are some nasty spiders here. I have seen many redbacks and have been bitten once. It was very painful and I was sick for about three days. They tend to stay in their webs in cool damp places so use gardening gloves when rummaging in woodpiles etc. Funnelwebs are found along the east coast and ranges and the Sydney funnelweb, Atrax robustus, is the deadliest. It is found mainly on the North Shore in Sydney but in thirty years living in Sydney I never saw one. Just don't muck about with big black spiders.

Apart from that there are ticks and scorpions but these are not deadly. You are unlikely to be worried about male platypuses unless you intend to pick one up.

In the sea there are various stinging jellyfish ranging from bluebottles to box jellyfish. Bluebottles are found along the east coast at certain times of the year and can be painful. In northern Australia, the jellyfish can be deadly so don't swim in the sea in the wet season. Don't pick up small octopuses, particularly those with glowing blue rings. They can kill you. A type of mollusc, the cone shell, has a pretty shell and people pick them up. Don't pick up a live one. It can harpoon you with a small dart and inject venom. Mind you, I've never seen one although I have seen a blue-ringed octopus.

Very few people are bitten or stung by our venomous wildlife each year and even fewer die as a result. Even so, the potential is there. Just treat the wildlife with respect and leave it alone and it will leave you alone.

Answer 4

As most people already said - you won't find most of the poisonous animals in urban areas. Depending on where in Australia you are moving to - you might come across spiders and some snakes - seasonally.

Spiders are found anywhere.
Redback spiders are small with distinctive red mark - but they are small and usually hide in crevices and corners. They can be found nearly everywhere (not everywhere as in everywhere all over your house, but everywhere in Australia). They are poisonous, so don't go poking your fingers in places you can't see.

In warmer part of New South Wales - in the outer suburbs and in bushlands - there are funnelweb spiders. These are quite big and DO leave them alone. VERY poisonous. Very aggressive.

Huntsman can be quite big and scary. Not really poisonous though. IF - and this is a big IF - you ever see one, you probably would see it on your ceiling. But leave them alone and they will leave you alone and will run away from you. I used to have one living above my head in my bedroom (I called him George - but he moved away several years ago). They are good at keeping the ceiling of your house clean of other creepy crawlies.

Very rarely you will see a snake in the suburbs. Again, depending where in Australia you will be moving too. Just common sense - see a snake - keep away and call for help. NEVER assume they are or are not poisonous.

As for other poisonous animals - you have to be in a place where they hang out to come across them.

Sorry if all this sounds like Australia is overrun by animals ready to pounce on unsuspecting foreigners. It's not that bad, really. In a city - you will probably never see any poisonous animal, ever.

Answer 5

Water Moccasins, The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Coral Snakes Watch out for the Gators, Black Widow spiders ( The Females are the most lethal) Just leave them alone and they wont bother you

Answer 6

Australia's Top Ten Dangerous Animals


Australia definately has its fair share of some of the world's most painful and poisonous creatures. Deadly spiders, and of the top ten most deadliest snakes of the world, Australia has six on the list. Even the humble platypus produces one of the most excruciating venoms known!

Below is the list of Australia's top ten dangerous creatures.

1. The Box Jellyfish

2. Irukandji (A Jellyfish)

3. Salt Water Crocodile

4. Blue Ring Octopus

5. Stone Fish

6. Red Back Spider

7. Brown Snake

8. Tiger Snake

9. Great White Shark

10. Funnel Web Spider

good luck & (your gunna need it) with your move to Australia... :)

Answer 7

If you staying in major towns then probably no. Only two spiders and I don't see them that regularly and that is the red back and the funnel web. I don't anticipate you will have your hands anywhere where you will get bitten.

Answer 8

I live in Australia and unless you're planning to live near the bush then no you dont need to watch out for any poisonous animals really. There is basically no chance of running into any poisonous animals or creatures if you move to the city or suburbia.

Answer 9

you will find spiders most places just don't touch them & you will be fine
snakes are around but hide & if you see one just give it plenty of room & leave it alone
stingers if they are around there will be signs on the beaches (read them)


PS dropbats are the greatest danger nothing you can do against them

Answer 10

spiders.snakes.stone fish.jelly fish. we do have a few but normally they stay out your way but do be aware of them you can look them up on the net. oh o forgot the trouser python