Dangerous Animals in Australia

As most people know Australia has many dangerous creatures.  Deaths from any of them are very rare however it is a good idea to be careful.

The most important tip we can give you is:

Always obey warning sign. They are there for a reason! 

Other useful guidelines are:

Preventing bites from Australia’s dangerous animals:
• Do not put your hands or feet under rocks or into logs etc when you cannot see what is in there.
Snakes tend to avoid open, exposed areas - do not leave anything lying on the ground that could provide shelter or cover for snakes
• Carefully shake your shoes before putting them on. Spiders and scorpions like to hide in them
• Never try to catch and pick up snakes or other dangerous animals. The most bites happen when people try to catch and handle these animals
• When walking in the bush particularly in the early morning stamp you feet occasionally. Snakes have very good hearing and will move to holes and shelter when you approach. Snakes are very dangerous when surprised.  They are more scared of you than you of them so they will disappear if they know you are coming.
If you get in a situation where you have a snake a few feet away from you, the best thing to do is to stand still, and wait for the snake to leave.
• Carry a roll of crepe bandage with you when you go for a walk through the bush or long grass.
• Be very careful with shells, cans etc on the beach.  They could have a dangerous animal hiding inside
• Wear shoes when walking in rock pools at the beach
• Generally Black spiders are the most dangerous

Avoiding shark attacks
• Where possible swim at patrolled beaches and between the flags;
• Avoid swim in canals or near a river mouth;
• Leave the water immediately if a shark is sighted;
• Avoid swimming alone; at dawn, dusk or at night, near schools of fish, or in murky waters
• Never swim when bleeding;

Avoiding crocodile attacks
• Do not enter the water in Crocodile areas,
• Do not visit the same spot near a rivers edge on a regular basis
• If collecting water use a rope with a container on the end

Note: Marine stingers are in coastal waters from Gladstone north in October-May.

What to look out for:

On the beach:
The Box and Irukandji Jellyfish Sharks, Stonefish, Blue ring octopus, Cone Shell, Stingray , Salt Water Crocodile

On the Land:
Snakes including Taipan, Brown, Tiger, Death Adder 
   
Funnel Web and Red Back Spider
  
In the Rivers:
Platypus, Salt Water Crocodile
 

What to do if you get bitten:

Although all poison attacks the body in different ways the treatment for bites is the same.

• Do not wash the bite area
• Try to slow down the speed the venom travels through the body by
- Wrapping a bandage firmly around the place where the bite is. This should not be so tight that the blood supply is cut off. If the bandage hurts it is too tight. DO NOT take the bandage off until you reach the doctor or the hospital.
- Try to avoid any unnecessary movement of this part of the body.
- Keep the injured person still. Do not let the person walk to get to help, bring help to the person, or carry the person to help.
- Try to keep the person calm. Poison spreads faster if the heart beats faster.
• Do not suck the bite.
• Do not try to catch or kill the snakes (You might get bitten too. Furthermore, snakes are protected in Australia.)
• Try to remember the colour and shape of the snake to describe to the doctor

Photo: https://library.thinkquest.org