What about the nasties?

Lynn Eades · #1 07-09-13, 02:40

According to a book I was reading,(Bill Bryson down under) (a great read!) the 10 most dangerous snakes on the planet live here, and they're not all the same type either. Then there are a whole raft of other things. The funnel web spider, the box jelly fish, the blue ringed octopus,the paralysis tick, and the stone fish. Once again, don't be fooled by the "the". There's more than one of each. Then there are shellfish that attack you, and toxic caterpillers. Not to mention the risk of travelling. Australia is an island about the size of the USA. It is wet around the edges, but I sense a distinct lack of water in the other bit.
Phill, I'd hold onto the chipmonks.
BTW.Aussie does have earthquakes as well.... or is that just settling as a result of mining?
Apparently 90% or snake bites can be avoided by wearing footware that covers the ankles.

motto (RIP) · #2 07-09-13, 03:40

Geez! You tackle one Kiwi and another one comes at you!

I've read Bill Bryson's book and found it to be not only hilarious but an accurate and kindly summing up of the country. He is a keen observer.
As an outsider (American) he accomplished something that probably couldn't be done by a local and I have recommended his book to people coming here for the first time.
To place things in perspective, I've lived here for 65 years now and got around a fair bit. I've yet to encounter a funnel web spider,box jellyfish,blue ringed octopus (wonder what you have to do to them to make their ring blue?), paralysis tick, stone fish or toxic caterpillar.
The only serious quake we've had here in living memory would be the one in Newcastle and strangely enough that area is heavily mined?

David

Lynn Eades · #3 07-09-13, 04:12

David, I agree about Bryson book. I really enjoyed the whole book. his stuff about sharks and his attempts at body surfing really had me laughing. I agree that he must be a keen observer, in every sense. Sorry I have no personal experience with the octopus's blue ring. It might just be the cold

The quake I was talking about was in Boulder (Kalgoorlie) about 3 years ago. When we visited in the july the whole main street of Boulder was all scaffolded with lots of damage, most shops were closed. I recall it was a 5.3 quake.