I moved to Australia in March of 2009. As hard as it is to believe, I've been here for about 3.5 years, and guess what – I'm still alive!
Moving to Australia? Check out this complete expat guide
With all the hype on Australia having one of the harshest climates and being home to the world's deadliest creatures, you know… not very many people have actually died from them.
Still, it is one of the first things I hear about from family and friends back home. “Oh, I couldn't go there! They have so many snakes and spiders that can kill you!”
True. There are plenty of things that could kill you (and it's probably a good idea to have comprehensive travel insurance), but the facts point to driving and even horseback riding to being deadlier in nature.
Here are the facts about Australia's deadly animals!
Spiders
In the past 3.5 years, I've been face-to-face with several arachnids – most of them being simple orb spiders or the ugly, ugly huntsman. Those, luckily, are not dangerous to humans in the least.
On the dangerous end of the scale, I've heard of a friend finding a Sydney funnel-web in his basement (not too far from my home) and my flatmates finding a Redback Spider out on our front porch.
Yes, both of these spiders are considered to be some of the deadliest in the world because of their potential, but the fact is they rarely kill. The Redback Spider, a relation to the black widow, bite actually only affects about 10% of people who have an adverse reaction to the venom.
You'll be happy to know that no person has died from a spider-related bite since 1979, as antivenom is now available for all native species.
Sharks
Australia is an island country, with close to 60,000 kilometers of coastline and deep ocean on its surrounds. These oceans are home to Great White sharks, Tiger sharks and Bull sharks.
Okay, so it's been a bad year for shark attacks, especially off the coast of Western Australia, but hear me out.
According to this article from Australian Geographic, of the 877 shark attacks that have happened in Australia since 1791, that's over 221 years, only 216 have been fatal. That works out to be about 1 fatality per year.
When considering more recent years, since 2000, the number has been a little more at just 2 fatalities per year.
Snakes
The world's deadliest land snake, the taipan, calls Western Australia home. Besides that, you can find the brown snake, the death adder, and the tiger snake – all of which are considered to be the world's deadliest.
Sure, snakes are scary business in Australia, but how scary?
It turns out that up to 3000 Australians get bit by snakes each year, but just an average of 2 a year are fatal. Of those, the majority are caused by the brown snake.
Crocodiles
I must admit, it is a little off-putting when you reach the most spectacular and gorgeous beach in the tropical north of Australia just to be met with a sign that reminds you that there may be crocodiles in the vicinity.
Recent studies that point to the crocs being able to travel long distances by “catching waves” are also a little disturbing.
Last thing you want to see while catching some rays is a crocodile rocking up on the beach next to a surfer!
Still, those pesky crocs actually cause fewer than 2 fatalities per year in Australia.
Box Jellyfish
The Box Jellyfish is tiny, but deadly. I remember seeing one on display in a jar at a caravan park in the tropical north of Queensland to warn visitors, and to think that little thing – almost clear in color – could be so ruthless was shocking.
With the box jellyfish, a person can go into cardiac arrest within minutes. This depends on the amount of tentacle that touches the body. To deactivate the stinging cells of the tentacles, vinegar has to be poured over them for at least 30 seconds.
Luckily, these jellyfish only populate the waters of the tropical north during the months of October through April. Another plus is that these little jellyfish don't cause more than 1 death per year on average.
Do you still think Australia is a scary place?
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Well it’s really scary ! :((
I have to admit these do freak me out. We have black widow spiders here in California and shark attacks occur on our coast as well. Living where I do, bears are also a concern but attacks are rare. These are definitely on my mind when I do to certain places but I don’t get freaked out about them. It’s probably the same in Australia as well. The fears are much bigger until you get a dose of reality once you get there. Still scary to think about if you let your mind ponder on these creatures.
When I was a teen, I use to worry about black widows hiding in the firewood pile at our house. I never did see one though.
It is really easy to focus on the what-ifs in Australia… probably because of the caliber of deadly animals that we have. And when something goes wrong — everyone hears about it, which totally enhances the fear!
The pictures are stunning! As scary as they can be, these creatures are also part of the identity of a place, and that is sad to notice that some are amongst the most endangered species on Earth…
Hmmm, it makes me feel a little better, but I still don’t want to run into a snake or spider while there! Interesting statistics, though – guess I should still move forward with my plan to visit Australia in the next couple years. ;)
Well no one WANTS to run into a snake or spider… ever ;) I’ve had minimal encounters in my time here, and I think if you talk to others you will get the same response. So come on down!
Hi everyone!
Being an Aussie, I loved this article; for once I found an article that wasn’t all “Oh NO! Australia is consumed by deadly animals”, and I found this really accurate and nicely unbiased!
Just a couple of things to add, death via crocodile is usually to people doing stupid things, ie. Camping next to a river with a “beware of croc” sign, or not listening to the “do not swim signs”. In my opinion, if you ignore those, well….. you know.
Sharks on the other hand is mostly caused by surfers who wear entirely black wetsuits, which makes them look like seals to a shark, one of their main food sources, but on the other hand, it’s really hard to get a wetsuit in any other colour.
The rest is just knowledge and using common sense really – which is why not that many people actually die from these things – and not panicking when they do. Loved this!
Thanks, Sian! Glad you enjoyed it. I will agree that a lot of people do stupid things and find themselves in trouble.
I think that if people are careful and use common sense (like Sian said), they will most-likely be fine. Being informed about your surrounding before you do anything is important.
Side note – My parents live in the canyons of Southern California. There are black widows, tarantulas, and scorpions that have made appearances in their garage. I always go in there wearing shoes.
I needed a warning for that spider pic…eeeeeeeek!
Oh boy. I’ve just booked a holiday to Melbourne. Hope to do as many touristy things while there. Are there any of these scary animals specific to Victoria that I need to watch out for?
Also, I would like to go to Tasmania. I can check the internet for info but if you can help me with how I can do a reasonably good visit from Melbourne over say 3 days, what would you suggest? Thanks.
Oh, one more thing, can I just pull over on the side of the road and have like a picnic lunch on the grass? Planning on doing the Great Ocean Road thing to see the 12 Apostles and the, is it Phillip Island penguins? Awesome pics. thanks.
Hmmm….didn’t the Crocadile Hunter die from a stingray? Not sure if it happened in Australia, but it looks like you definitely have to be aware of the dangerous animals in Australia. I might need to be especially careful in the waters becuase I have heard about a number of shark attacks in Australia.
Sally Stretton
I don’t even like a little spider buddy to pop up in my shower in the morning let alone have to worry about whats around me as i walk down the beach or even in my home for that matter. Some of these scary creatures don’t just show up on your front door so you very easily could avoid them but a spider goes everywhere. With my luck I’d be the one fatality the year I traveled there. Thanks for sharing though!
Correction to the jellyfish comment, box jellies are a decent size (easily spotted on a boat for example). The small jellyfish are irukandji which are tiny.
Krys, 3 days in Tassie can be done but you are probably best to stick to one region, south, north east or north west. Fly into Hobart or Launceston. Personally I suggest a weekend in Hobart, Salmanca markets on Saturday, cruise up to MONA (Museum of Old and New Art, closed Tuesday, costs $20 for non Tasmanians, return ferry is $15). Farmers market on Sunday morning, lunch at Garagities (only takes bookings on Sunday arvo, set menu), Ethos is also go and Mee Wah is the best restaurant in Tasmania and does a good yum cha.
The great ocean road has a few spots were one can stop for a picnic. As for scary creatures Victoria has quite a few snakes. One thing is be careful with ants, the jack jumper has an ancient wasp like sting that sends 3% of victims into anaphylactic shock and has caused more deaths in Tasmania than snakes, spiders and sharks combined.
I found a Brown Snake in our house when I was a kid. We renovated after this.
3000 snake bites a year?! That is really scary! Especially when you consider that those cases in which people get permanently injured as a consequence aren’t included in the 2 people a year dead count. I saw in a documentary once a man who ended up with permanent muscular dysfunction following a venomous snake bite in Australia
These spiders freak me out….
how often would you run into a spider in urbun areas like center of Melbourne?
I’m considering the universities there for PhD but the spiders scares me to death.
Hi Parisa. They’re around, but you’ll be fine. The funnel web is mostly found in Sydney and redbacks are far and few between (just make sure to check your shoes before you put them on as well as under the toilet seat!).
No one I know has ever been bitten by anything. I stepped on a brown snake when I was younger, barefoot too and I’m here to tell the tale.
Go to Melbourne! You’ll love it.
Once upon a time I used to forward funnel web spiders away to be milked for anti-venom. Nasty little buggers! Very common around Jervis Bay, NSW although they are ALL along the East Coast of Australia. Different varieties, even QLD has one. Blue Mountains? Yes. Aside from campers at Honeymoon bay, Jervis bay, most people are unlikely to come across one. And if you do? leave the damn thing alone. Red backs really are common, quite, inoffensive creatures, very reclusive. Speaking of reclusive, I think that perhaps the Brown Recluse spider has made it’s way here from the USA and one of our own, the White Tipped spider does a good imitation of it.
One little (and I mean little) creature that seems to have NOT been mentioned is the apparently harmless “Blue Ringed Octopus”. Deadly. Do not, handle in any way this guy. One bite, yes, bite, and you’re dead!
Yes, and further to Jeff’s comments, I would be more concerned about people drowning from our rips than from shark attacks. People come to Sydney and get caught in the ‘backpacker express’ rips. Google them and be aware of where they are. Parts of Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama are actually quite hectic to swim in at times and are sometimes closed. I usually use the sea pools for that reason if I want to just relax. So in short, if you read signs up north (ie don’t swim, crocs, stingers), don’t touch things in the water, wear tough shoes if walking/crabbing/catching prawns in the shallows up north (stone fish, cone shells, sting-rays, oysters), don’t try rock fishing or cliff diving, stay in hotels or with guides in croc territory, ask the locals where the crocs hang out before you go for that sunset stroll on the beach with your pina colada, don’t go barefoot in the bush, avoid long grass in snakey territory and preferably make a bit of noise, stomp around a bit if you can’t avoid doing that (say in crossing a paddock to get somewhere), wear a hat and tropical grade repellent in paralysis tick territory (check your hair and skin folds that night before showering), stomp on then shake your shoes out if they are left outside, swim between the flags, cross at the traffic lights, wear a condom, don’t swim when you’re drunk, wear a seat belt, don’t drink and drive or speed, and sunscreen (lots and lots of sunscreen)…then she’ll be right mate!
I saw a doc once about horrible non-indiginous frogs that are wiping out Australia’s wildlife. Can’t remember the name but I think they’re Brazilian. Introduced in the 1960’s. They have hideous postules that produce acidic puss. Eeww. Kills anything that eats them.
I’m pretty sure you’re thinking of cane toads; no one likes them and we’ll kill them if we get the chance.