on television. The one thing that bothers me is that from TV, I have heard there are so many poisonous snakes and spiders. It is really that bad? Honestly, are they just mainly in the woods or ranches, or do they inhabit the cities and towns as well? Or is this just sensationalized for a story on TV?
2007-07-22 14:59:54 · 10 answers · asked by BLM 3 in Travel ➔ Australia ➔ Other - Australia
All of your answers have been very informative. I have stepped on what we call a "copperhead" here in Texas and seen plenty of black widow spiders, brown recluse spiders. After my snake incident, I developed a sort of fear. Thank goodness I stepped on the snakes nead and not its tail. So, I stunned it and it just crawled away, but they can be nasty. But, you are right, from TV, it appears that you have a rampant problems with poisonous critters. All hype, I guess.
2007-07-23 01:35:48 · update #1
No.... It's not that bad.. there are no "rampant" problems here with most of the critters, and chances are you'll never encounter many of them.
I'm an American who's been living in Oz for the last 12 years, and there's basically no difference. I've been bitten by a snake here.... BUT I was bitten twice by rattlers in the US - and everytime, it was my own fault.
Yes, we have lots of bitey things here, but it's not much different than living in the US. Australia does have lots of poisonous snakes and spiders, but just like in the US, if you watch where you're going or what you're doing, you're pretty safe. Use your head, take precautions, and chances are you'll run into very few 'baddies".
You have about the same chance of running into a snake or spider here as you do in the US.
That's the bad thing about television. People here have pre-conceived notions of what Americans are like ( I've been asked thousands of times if I own a gun or have I ever shot anyone) they think that America is a dangerous place because of bears and wolves and black widow spiders...
and people in the US think Australia is a dangerous place filled with dangerous snakes, spiders, crocodiles and things that just want to kill you.... (and that the people are just like Crocodile Dundee or Dame Edna)
If I hear one more person tell me that they LOVE Australia because Kylie Minogue lives here and she's so HOT, I'm gonna scream !
Australia is a beautiful country... the people are great and it's really worth a visit.
2007-07-23 12:18:02 · answer #1 · answered by Kate 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are PLENTY of venomous creatures here in Australia. But you are unlikely to see them in urban area or even sometimes in the outback or the bush - unless you really look for them.
The ones you will come across most often are:
- the red back spiders (small, about the size of the balc widow except for a VERY bright red mark on its back) - which often hide in quiet, dark area like garden shed and junk piles. As long as you don't put your fingeres into places you are not supposed to then you will be fine. IF you keep your house clean and tidy, you won't see them.
- the Huntsman. They are rather big and can bite but not venomous or agressive. They sometimes live inside your house on the ceiling. You don't bother them they don't bother you. They are NOT everywhere. Some people never seen them. I, however, had one living on my bedroom ceiling for several years. HE kept my house clean of other creepies crawlies and cobweb.
Other than that, the rare occasions up the warmer part of the country where people might find a snake in their backyard, but these is usually because they live near bushlands. But again, this is very rare.
Like what other answerers have siad... we don't have poisonous snakes run all over the streets in the middle of the city. Just like most other cities in the world.
2007-07-22 23:13:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh ca-an come to Australia, bring the kids. It'll be fun.
I've seen some doccos on tv with all the suspenseful music and the gravelly voiced narrator, very scary.
Yes it;'s sensationalized but we do have a lot of bitey things here. I live in an urban/bush area and looking at my ceiling now I can see about four species of spider, there's probably another ten around the house, none of which are deadly... I think.
Snakes, spiders, sharks and crocs are all talked up but the one thing that are literally a pain are the jelly fish. There's deadly ones in the north of Australia and around Sydney we get bluebottles which can have up to 30ft tentacles with a nasty sting in them.
They only come with the summer nor easterlies so it's easy to avoid them.
Other than that, most things go on their merry way and don't bother us if we don't bother them.
2007-07-23 05:58:56 · answer #3 · answered by Mickmalimus 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes there are spiders and snakes in the bush that are very dangerous but there not every where in the bush also.
I have lived a lot of my life on cattle ranches here in Australia and have only scene snakes and spiders very few and far apart.
In America that he huge snakes,dangerous snakes and other dangerous animals also.
Cheers
2007-07-22 22:14:48 · answer #4 · answered by raymondjcox1 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes you've been watching too much t.v.
and it is sensationalized.
spiders try to get out of your way. we just take a few precautions like spray under the outdoor furniture for redback spiders(once every couple weeks) every time we are having a BBQ.
yes there are poisonous snakes - even in the city - but they try very hard to avoid humans. if you see one in your yard - go inside, have a cuppa & by the time you go back outside - it's gone. again a few precautions - don't leave rubbish timber, etc around for them to hide under, keep your yard clear of hiding places for them and they will go elsewhere.
never never chase a snake or try to catch one, or hit it with a stick cause it will attack in self defence.
i feel much safer here than where there are bears and wolves.
2007-07-23 06:01:36 · answer #5 · answered by mariemlm 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are lots of poisonous snakes, spiders, fish, reptiles etc in Australia but unless you intend to travel to remote bush areas...I doubt you will come across any!
Australian cities are much like anywhere else in the world...safe!
There are no killer kangaroos or other garbage sensationalized on TV.
You may wish to check out the travel section of the Australian Yahoo news message boards as there have been many others asking about Australia with quite a number of detailed responses about places to visit and things to see or do.
http://au.messages.yahoo.com/news/travel/
There are several pages of topics...feel free to browse or start your own thread.
Cheers :)
2007-07-22 22:12:41 · answer #6 · answered by Rygar 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Strewth, there are more 'top contributors' in this thread than a tart has underwear. But I guess they have something in common, being as how they want to score!
The reality sweetpea is that you are more likely to be struck by boredom than a funnel web or taipan. There is miles between places out here, its as boring as bat **** and the only snakes you're likely to see are flat ones on the road.
Bring a good book and watch out for the hairy legs, coz they are a lot more dangerous than the bloody snakes.
2007-07-23 09:42:25 · answer #7 · answered by Ranjeeh D 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes there are poisonous snakes and spiders in Aussie ... to me crocs are more dangerous than them .......
Every country has their dangerous animals .... but that would be like me saying "would I happen to see a mountain lion or a grizzle bear walking down the streets of New York, and would it attack me?".
:-)
2007-07-22 22:34:55 · answer #8 · answered by • Koala • uʍop ɹǝpun 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
yes there are quite a few dangerous snakes and spiders but if you stay out of their way, then they'll stay out of yours.
xoxo
2007-07-24 01:48:17 · answer #9 · answered by lil bluey 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can see me!!!! i'lll make your day!
2007-07-23 00:12:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋