Hills

Ha! LOL, I love it!

DBM wrote:

    > Hi Carolyn,
    > Red backs are common in Brisbane inside (rarely) & outside the house.
    > Garages are the worst as the little blighters hitch hike on cars. Always be
    > careful picking things up, bang shoes etc. They like hidey holes. The
    > white round eggs and messy web are a first tell tale.

Will only bite if you actually stick your hand/foot up their noses (or
equivalent). Add that to the fact that they like warm, hidden places, and it's
actually quite hard to get bitten. Inquisitive kids' fingers are at most risk,
so if you have ankle-biters, you have to train them not to poke into piles of
junk/wood, crevices, etc. Redbacks don't move much, and not quickly, so they'll
actually wait there until you get back with the shoe, and stay still while you
swat them. Dopey buggers.

    > Huntsman are big but
    > harmless, u usually hear them running across the ceiling (usually when there
    > is a storm outside). Insect spray will work but a shoe is quicker &
    > cheaper! ;-)
    > A house with flyscreening (more for the mozzies, spiders and cockies than
    > flies!) is the best but not common in older brissie houses.

Much as I love the older, 'character' wooden houses on stilts in Brisbane, I
would not recommend them for migrants... best to make flyscreens a must on the
shopping list, at least at first, until you get used to the bugs. My hubby has
been here 12 years now, and still gets horrible reactions to mozzie bites, so
insists we live in a fully-screened house.

The screens also deal with the flying cockroaches. Nothing worse than to sit
down to dinner, and have a 3 inch cockie fly through the open window and land in
your dinner!

    > Snakes, well green tree snakes (pythons) can be common in many parts of
    > Brisbane, useful in controlling rodents. Usually they are just passing thru
    > looking for food. Contrary to a report in 'The Mirror, 5/2/02 Australian
    > snakes do NOT eat people (too large, & chewy!) ;-)
    > Grassland urban areas of Brissie you can find more dangerous types.
    > Usually they will leave u alone if u leave them alone. Best thing to do is
    > stand still and let them pass (hard to do I know but they think u r a post,
    > tree, etc). They are out there u may/may not come across them. In the
    > event that u run over one, leave it and do not consider taking it to a Vet
    > for medical care. LOL

After 40years in Brisbane, I still have never seen a live snake - of any
description. Then again, I'm an urban/suburban girl, and I don't like camping or
tramping.

    > Cane toads (imported unwelcome pest) are bigger concern for dogs due to the
    > poison sacks on the shoulders. They make a pleasantly satisfying popping
    > sound when run over )))))))))

I remember it well from my teenage years (swerving to hit them!), but the cane
toad numbers seem to have dropped dramatically recently- haven't seen one on the
road for years now. Wonder where they've gone?

    > Crocs are commonly found just over 1hour north of Brisbane

    > At Australia Zoo!

There are worse pests there - family Irwinus

    > Termites in houses are a bigger concern than snakes. Steel termites (rust)
    > can be common in older cars ;-).
    > Basically, you will come across spiders and could come across
    > snakes, just be cautious. Use common sense. You get used to it.
    > Brisbane is a great city to enjoy with children, plenty of space and sport.
    > The eastern suburbs get the fresh sea breezes, the rest get the hot left
    > overs. Houses facing the NE get the best breezes.
    > As November will be getting warmish :-) The Grand View Hotel on Cleveland
    > Point can be quite a pleasant place to go for lunch or dinner (seafood
    > basket comes to mind) and to cool down (apparently Speckled Hen is on tap).
    > Cheers
    > Bill
    > "Carolyn Lewis" wrote in message
    > news:430730.1033493593@britishexpa-
    > ts.com    ...
    > >
    > > Is it just me or is anyone else terrified of sharing their space with
    > > poisonous creatures? Can anyone tell me honestly if I'm going to come
    > > across them on a daily basis in Brisbane? And are there any precautions
    > > I can take? Do you spray insecticide or can you buy other stuff to keep
    > > them at bay?
    > >
    > > --
    > > Posted via http://britishexpats.com
    > >

Carolyn Lewis

Is it just me or is anyone else terrified of sharing their space with poisonous creatures? Can anyone tell me honestly if I'm going to come across them on a daily basis in Brisbane? And are there any precautions I can take? Do you spray insecticide or can you buy other stuff to keep them at bay?

Don

Nah. Had a snake in my garden here in Eurrope yesterday - what's the big fuss? The thingies I'd be most concerned about are bluebottles (jellyfish) that make ocean shore swimming a mite dangerous for 6 months a year, I think north of about Whitsundays or so.

shaun/lor

hi there you and i have the same thoughts.
well if you go to the bottom of the opening page and type in creepy crawlies in the search box, your find lots of other post that we have had on this subject. hope this helps lorraine.

Carolyn Lewis

Thanks for your reply.. but do you get spiders in the house?
Do you see them daily?

shaun/lor

i went to victoria for 7 weeks this april and i saw one spider in the bathroom. my husband says it depends on where you leave. but it was a big spider.

kentcoast

Lets see (bear with me here - there's a point...),

The most feared shark in the world,
At least 5 of the ten most venomous snakes in the world
Two of the nastiest spiders - one of which has fangs which can pierce a human big toenail.
Two types of jellyfish which can inflict an extreme degree of unpleasentness.
A seashell with a built in hypodermic needle.
A crocodile that even Steve Irwin treats with respect.
A poisonous octopus
Earthworms (harmless though) which can grow to 12 foot.
And even a type of grass that can inflict a nasty injury.

Oh yes, and more people die in europe each year from bee stings than all the above put together account for in Oz.

It's all a question of perspective. Spiders are no more common in the house in Oz than they are here and the vast majority are harmless. I'm sure that one of the Oz residents will contribute to confirm that it's not a big issue over there - most city people have never seen a funnelweb outside of a zoo and redbacks are treated with respect but more as an annoyance than as a serious problem.

I think we're all going to be a bit wary when we go out - I expect it to last for about a month (But I'm still going to be careful with the compost heap!)

Cheers

Perry

Dbm

Hi Carolyn,

Red backs are common in Brisbane inside (rarely) & outside the house.
Garages are the worst as the little blighters hitch hike on cars. Always be
careful picking things up, bang shoes etc. They like hidey holes. The
white round eggs and messy web are a first tell tale. Huntsman are big but
harmless, u usually hear them running across the ceiling (usually when there
is a storm outside). Insect spray will work but a shoe is quicker &
cheaper! ;-)
A house with flyscreening (more for the mozzies, spiders and cockies than
flies!) is the best but not common in older brissie houses.

Snakes, well green tree snakes (pythons) can be common in many parts of
Brisbane, useful in controlling rodents. Usually they are just passing thru
looking for food. Contrary to a report in 'The Mirror, 5/2/02 Australian
snakes do NOT eat people (too large, & chewy!) ;-)
Grassland urban areas of Brissie you can find more dangerous types.
Usually they will leave u alone if u leave them alone. Best thing to do is
stand still and let them pass (hard to do I know but they think u r a post,
tree, etc). They are out there u may/may not come across them. In the
event that u run over one, leave it and do not consider taking it to a Vet
for medical care. LOL

Cane toads (imported unwelcome pest) are bigger concern for dogs due to the
poison sacks on the shoulders. They make a pleasantly satisfying popping
sound when run over )))))))))

Crocs are commonly found just over 1hour north of Brisbane.









At Australia Zoo!

Termites in houses are a bigger concern than snakes. Steel termites (rust)
can be common in older cars ;-).
Basically, you will come across spiders and could come across
snakes, just be cautious. Use common sense. You get used to it.

Brisbane is a great city to enjoy with children, plenty of space and sport.
The eastern suburbs get the fresh sea breezes, the rest get the hot left
overs. Houses facing the NE get the best breezes.
As November will be getting warmish :-) The Grand View Hotel on Cleveland
Point can be quite a pleasant place to go for lunch or dinner (seafood
basket comes to mind) and to cool down (apparently Speckled Hen is on tap).

Cheers
Bill


"Carolyn Lewis" wrote in message
news:430730.1033493593@britishexpats-
.com...
    > Is it just me or is anyone else terrified of sharing their space with
    > poisonous creatures? Can anyone tell me honestly if I'm going to come
    > across them on a daily basis in Brisbane? And are there any precautions
    > I can take? Do you spray insecticide or can you buy other stuff to keep
    > them at bay?
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Robert Edwards

I live on the Gold Coast (sth of Brisbane) had some people over on Sat
night, when they left I shut the gates and went back to the front door to be
confronted by a six foot snake, we wrestled for hours (oh that part is
fantasy but the snake wasn't) it took off no problems. I live on acreage
and see snakes often but they are never a problem.

Graham Wood

So far in brisbane I have seen a few spiders. But, you buy can of Mortein
spray for which ever bug you don't like. Have used it in a store room and
never seen a spider there or in the house. The only spider I have seen
close up is a huntsman that was in the mail box. Don't know who got the
bigger surprise, but it ran away very quickly.
So don't worry about bugs, spiders or snakes. If your in the far north
only swim in the netted areas during jellyfish season, and if you see
signs warning of salties believe them, they are not just put up for
tourists to take photos of.

Carolyn Lewis wrote:

    > Originally posted by pleasancefamily:
    > >
    > >
    > > Nah. Had a snake in my garden here in Eurrope yesterday - what's the
    > > big fuss? The thingies I'd be most concerned about are bluebottles
    > > (jellyfish) that make ocean shore swimming a mite dangerous for 6
    > > months a year, I think north of about Whitsundays or so.
    > Thanks for your reply.. but do you get spiders in the house?
    > Do you see them daily?
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

springflower

Hi
I was on holiday a couple of years ago in south western australia and didnt see any spiders at all.. plenty of ants, cockroaches...ahhh and saw a huge goana.. think thats how you spell it on the side of the road and it still hasnt put me off wanting to go back

Robert Edwards

Goannas are common around my place.

"springflower" wrote in message
news:431038.1033511812@britishexpats-
.com...
    > Originally posted by Robert Edwards:
    > > I live on the Gold Coast (sth of Brisbane) had some people over on Sat
    > > night, when they left I shut the gates and went back to the front door
    > > to be
    > > confronted by a six foot snake, we wrestled for hours (oh that part is
    > > fantasy but the snake wasn't) it took off no problems. I live on
    > > acreage
    > > and see snakes often but they are never a problem.
    > >
    > Hi
    > I was on holiday a couple of years ago in south western australia and
    > didnt see any spiders at all.. plenty of ants, cockroaches...ahhh and
    > saw a huge goana.. think thats how you spell it on the side of the road
    > and it still hasnt put me off wanting to go back
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Ceri

Yes , nothing to be scared of though.
In the winter I don't see them much, summer I usually have quite a few Redbacks around my window frames (in-between the metal runners) and also the garage.. They are nothing to be scared of, it's only the female which is poisonous, the male isn't (well he can't penetrate you the same). Even if you get bitten, still nothing to worry about.. really! The Redback's venom is so slow reacting, it can take days even weeks for you to feel the affect, so you can get to the hospital in plenty of time to get the anti venom if bitten... nobody's died from a Redback for what 40 years? I think. Anyway it's since the Anti- venom has been invented.

I have a resident Huntsman spider in my house, running round my ceiling... he's lovely! To look at they look a bit scary, big hairy things with fangs, but they are harmless to most people... they will not kill you.

The most dangerous spider in Australia is the "Sydney Funnelweb" .. if bitten by one of these you need to treat it like a snake bite and tourniquet your limb, and get to a hospital as soon as possible.

Snakes.. I've seen only three since I've been here, one a harmless tree snake which my cat chased, another a dead brown snake, and one Python crossing the road. I do a lot of Bushwalking etc, and I don't come across snakes.

Sharks... . Just don't go swimming with seals, just joking. Here in Brisbane there are Bull and Whaler sharks in the shallows... this I do know, as I fish for them every summer from the shore. The Brisbane river is full of them, but not to worry the biggest I've caught from there is 5 feet long, still big enough to amputate your foot. There are loads of sharks around Brisbane anyway, it's surprising that even Australians are a bit shocked when I pull out a whaler next to them in the shallows. There are also Hammerheads about, but not to worry they've yet to attack anyone yet. If sharks were hunting for humans, you would not go into the water.
I don't go swimming in the sea, as I fish a lot, and can quite easily catch around 4, or 5 sharks in one evening in the Brisbane mid summer... so, I don't go in the water...I'm a bit of a coward when it comes to "shadows in the water" ! Spiders, snakes no, sharks yes. I stay on the land and they stay in the water.. nice arrangement for me. (P.S... I release all sharks which I catch, I don't kill them)

The only thing which I watch out for is Ticks, If you own animals, watch these "little B*ggers" in the summer... they can kill your dog , or cat if they go unnoticed. My cat had one a couple of years back, but I spotted it in time and got it removed by the vet.

cheers

Ceri

P.S
just a tip for you people scared of spiders, if you have no "mortein" bug killer... spray them with hairspray, works a treat. And if you are stuck for gifts at chiristmas, you can send one home to your family ... in resin of course!

cheers

Johnny Boy

Hi Carolyn,
Snakes and spiders are common place in Brisbane - here in the bayside
(Capalaba and environs) we have the deadly eastern brown snake, but they are
more frightened of you than you are of it. Really you can only expect to cop
a potentially lethal bite if you stand on it. I know that's hardly
reassuring - especially in cases like last year when one was discovered in
the playground at my youngest son's kindy.
Huntsman - because of their size and speed - are likely to give you the
willies, but redbacks are more of a concern in the summer - they're
everywhere. If you get bitten by one of these they can make you very ill. If
a child gets bitten, you should get urgent medical attention. Having said
this though, only 13 people in Australia have ever died from redback bites -
and they were all before the anti-venom was discovered.
Fly-screens on all opening windows helps keep the nasties out of the house.

Cheers and WELL DONE BRISBANE LIONS!!!
Johnny

"Carolyn Lewis" wrote in message
news:430730.1033493593@britishexpats-
.com...
    > Is it just me or is anyone else terrified of sharing their space with
    > poisonous creatures? Can anyone tell me honestly if I'm going to come
    > across them on a daily basis in Brisbane? And are there any precautions
    > I can take? Do you spray insecticide or can you buy other stuff to keep
    > them at bay?
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com