In six years in QLD I have seen only two live snakes on the loose, both pythons (which have no venom).

I think I have only ever seen two redback spiders, though I assume my house and backyard to be full of them.

Admittedly I have seen 11 crocs in the wild, but that was on a guided croc tour on the Proserpine river.

I have been stung by jellyfish on about two occasions, very painful but not the killer type.

I have been bitten by ants more times than I care to remember - use bicarb "paste" to neutralise their acid sting.

Most painful Australia related event was probably being dumped by a wave onto a sandbank, now THAT hurt.

There are over 40 species of funnel web spider, and the CSIRO website states that:

"Funnel-web spiders are found in:
Queensland
New South Wales
the Australian Capital Territory
Victoria
South Australia
Tasmania."

There are also two species that live in trees. Only the Sydney and Northern Tree dwelling variety have resulted in death. You could be really unlucky and have a tree fall on you in Northern NSW, SE Qld, survive and then get bitten by an irate tree dwelling specimen.

We've only seen them in the pool, and they are soon got rid of! Both my wife and daughter have been bitten by white tails, my wife got some slight ulceration at the bite site, and my daughter has a ring of blisters from her bite a couple of weeks ago. Very painful, but not too much of a problem. Jumping ant bites are also very painful, and both kids and me have been bitten, pain and swelling can last a week.

We regularly get snakes in the garden, browns, red bellied blacks, pythons, but they generally move away when they see you. Watched a kookaburra eating a red bellied black on one of the garden chairs the other week, amazing that it managed to eat, head first, such a big snake, while still alive and squirming.

To be honest you just get used to it, and the only thing that keeps us out of the garden at the moment are the mozzies. Got into my car the other morning, and in that time I had 8 come in with me. And we do live in an area where there's Ross River Fever. And they'll bite thru denim jeans too. I've taken to wearing a waterproof when putting out washing as that seems to stop them.

We live semi-rural, and for what you gain in terms of seeing other wildlife, peace and quiet, views etc it's been worth it. We discovered a blue tongue lizard in he bedroom last night, which was interesting.

Like I say, depends where you're living, but don't worry about it, there's plenty of worse things to cause you harm in Oz than the bitey things.

Hi I am currently trying to decide where it is in the UK that i want to live. One thing that worries me the most is all the bad / cold weather can injure/kill me and my family. Do i need to be as worried as i am? Am i more likely to come across some of this cold weather in certain areas of the UK?

Maybe Queensland is the worst state for dangerous wildlife because of the tropical climate. But still your probably much more likley to be hit by a bus crossing the street over there.

I saw a guy with a white sheet over his head creep up on a sleeping crocodile.The croc had no idea he was there.He was within about a foot of the croc's head then at the top of his voice he screamed BOOO!!!.
The croc lept about 6 foot into the air.
So, they can jump.

I'll bet afterwards that the bloke with the sheet discovered he could run much faster than he thought and can also climb trees like a cat.

Yup, true, didnt like to say that though!

Front page of our local paper was an article on two teenage girls who had put drugs in lollies and spread them around the playground at the local Maccas. Looks like the dangers are getting closer!

He could neither run nor climb,
He was eaten

Avoid England, especially Cornwall, I was bitten by a snake there once, spent 7 days in Hospital. A Very dangerous place.

True, but still smiling...

I'll give that a try next time I get bitten. The local ants have a vendetta against me at the moment ! I'm getting scared to go in the garden.

Hi All

On the subject of little friends in Oz. Heres a picture of a house mate waiting to greet us in our new home in melbourne fantastic hey!!!

Regards

Steve and Vicky

He is ok he does not have a baseball bat

Drop bears are the real nasties out here.......

could be under his coat?

hope thats all he has under is coat