Australia Dangerous Species

While Australia is home to some of the world’s most deadly creatures, travelers who take adequate safety precautions have little reason to worry about feral fauna. Still, it’s best to remember that some of the most dangerous animals are also some of the most harmless-looking. When exploring, keep a respectful distance from the wildlife.

Much of the danger associated with smaller land animals can be decreased by covering up skin, so wear boots, pants, and long sleeves while hiking. If bitten or stung, it’s best to take the offending creature to the hospital with you (if you can safely capture it) so that doctors can administer the correct treatment. The following list highlights an array of potentially harmful Australian critters and details the appropriate safety precautions to be taken with each.

• Ticks and mites: Sure, snakes are scary, but smaller animals can be harmful too. Mites and ticks vary in size: some are barely visible while others are a centimeter across. They are found all over Australia, particularly in eastern coastal areas, and can carry scrub typhus. Visitors should also be alert for paralysis ticks, which can, in extreme cases, paralyze human victims with their toxin. Be particularly vigilant when camping or hiking in the bush. Symptoms of a tick bite vary, but can include headache, nausea, swelling, and itchiness. Safety information: Wearing light-colored clothing makes it easier to spot ticks. Always keep bug repellent handy. Don’t touch dead or rotting wood, and avoid sitting directly on the ground or on logs. Check your skin for lumps or swelling when hiking or camping. Seek medical attention if you develop symptoms of tick paralysis (weakness, swollen lymph nodes, fever, flu-like symptoms, partial paralysis) or scrub typhus (headache, muscle pain, fever, gastrointestinal discomfort).
• Snakes: While Australia is home to the world’s most poisonous snakes, the majority of these species are terrified of humans and will slither away at the sound of footsteps. If cornered, however, some will attack in self-defense. Snakes are of greatest concern in the Wet (see When to Go). Safety information: Avoid walking through brush or grass too tall or dense to allow you to clearly see where you are walking. Step on (rather than over) logs, as snakes often bask next to them. If a snake is spotted, don’t make any sudden moves; back away slowly. If bitten, tightly wrap the wounded area, working the bandage down to the tip of the limb and back up to the next joint to help slow the spread of venom. Seek medical attention immediately, and keep the affected area immobile. Do not try to suck out the venom or clean the bite, and don’t panic—most snake bites can be treated effectively if dealt with quickly. Bites from unidentified snakes should always be treated as potentially dangerous.
• Spiders: The famous golden orb spider can grow to be as big as a child’s head but poses little threat to humans. The funnel-web, redback, and white-tailed spiders are among the most dangerous arachnids Australia has to offer. The funnel-web is oval-shaped with brown or gray markings; favors cool, wet places in eastern Australia (including Tasmania); can cause serious illness and death. The redback (common throughout Australia, especially in urban areas) gets its name from its red-striped back (sometimes brown or orange-striped). The white-tailed spider is found throughout Australia—sometimes in urban areas—and can be identified by its lighter-colored rear end. Safety information: Funnel-web bite symptoms include pain, sweating, excessive salivation, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, and mouth numbness. Redback bites can be treated with an antivenom, and white-tailed bites are often accompanied by nausea and burning pain. If bitten, apply an ice pack and seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms include pain, swelling, sweating, fever, headache, and nausea.
• Crocodiles: Saltwater crocodiles, a.k.a. estuarine crocodiles or “salties” (some Aussies refer to them as “snapping handbags”), actually live in both salt and freshwater and can grow to lengths exceeding 5m. Freshwater crocodiles ( “freshies” ) are found only in freshwater. Though they will bite if provoked, they generally present little danger to adults. Crocodiles are found almost exclusively in the tropical north of Australia, although they range farther inland than you might expect (hundreds of kilometers, especially during the Wet). Safety information: Salties are difficult to see and will attack without provocation. When in croc territory, always camp, prepare food, and wash dishes more than 50m from water and at least 2m above the high-water mark. Do not swim in croc territory unless the state parks service has posted signs indicating that it is safe. Be particularly careful during the breeding season (Sept.-Apr.) and at night, when crocs are most active. A good way to identify dangerous areas is to look for mud slides where crocs have entered and exited the water. When crossing a stream in a 4WD, stay inside your vehicle—even if stuck, you’re better off waiting for another car to provide assistance than attempting to dislodge your vehicle amid snapping crocs (if you’re stuck in a stream in a remote area—well, good luck, mate).
• Sharks: While sharks generally don’t bother humans unless provoked or attracted by blood, several shark attacks occur each year in Australia. Safety information: Lifeguards at popular beaches generally keep good watch, but stay inside the flagged areas. Exit the water immediately if you are cut or bleeding, or if you see a suspicious-looking fin.
• Dingoes: Believed to be descendants of wild Asian dogs, dingoes probably found their way to the continent 5000 years ago as the result of trade between Aboriginal and Indonesian peoples. Only 4975 years later, they found their way into pop culture when the parents of 10-week-old Azaria Chamberlain were charged with the infant’s murder and blamed wild dingoes for her death instead. Dingoes pose little threat to adults but can injure or even kill small children. Safety information: When in dingo country, pack away all food and keep fishing bait off the ground.
• Blue-ringed octopus: At rest, the blue-ringed octopus is normally yellow or brown; the bright blue rings appear only when the animal is about to attack. Though small (from the size of a pea to 10 in. across) and often pretty, they carry enough poison to kill 25 adults (roughly one marine biology class) at any given time. Their painless bite can penetrate a wetsuit and is followed by paralysis, respiratory arrest, and death. Safety information: Blue-ringed octopi can vary in color and size. Be careful when walking on the beach. Do not walk through tidal rock or coral pools, and avoid darkened areas. If stung, seek immediate medical attention.
• Box jellyfish: Box jellyfish are unfortunately both attractive and lethal. These femmes fatales of the ocean are large, translucent white, and have tentacles up to 2m in length. They are hard to spot and inhabit the waters of the Top End Oct.-Apr. and the northern shores on the west and east coasts Nov.-Apr. Safety information: Warnings to stay out of the water should be strictly observed. Box jellyfish that have washed up on shore are still dangerous. Stings can be fatal; the pain alone causes immediate shock. Do not attempt to remove jellyfish tentacles, as this can increase the amount of toxin absorbed. Vinegar should be poured over affected areas as quickly as possible to prevent further discharge of toxins, and immediate medical attention is crucial.
• Irukandji jellyfish: The Irukandji sting is not necessarily lethal, but it can cause the incredibly painful “Irukandji syndrome.” The Irukandji is tiny (2cm), and swimmers sometimes don’t realize they’ve been stung, even though stings are often characterized by a rash. Symptoms can develop any time from an hour to a few days after the sting. As always, seek medical attention if you have any doubts. Safety information: Many jellyfish stings can be treated by dousing the stings with vinegar. Calamine lotion and antihistamines can help to relieve the pain.
• Cassowaries: Imagine, if you will, a gigantic, brightly colored turkey on stilts. Now, imagine it has huge, velociraptor-like claws. You should now have a good mental image of a cassowary. These large, flightless birds are found mainly in Queensland and can grow up to almost 2m in height and run 50kph. When threatened, they strike out with both sets of claws (which can slice through wood). Safety information: Cassowaries are most likely to attack during mating season (winter). Do not approach a cassowary; rather, watch it quietly, then back away slowly. If threatened, try to put something big between you and the cassowary, like a tree, a car, or your least favorite travel companion.
• Cone snails: Killer snails? Proof that everything in Australia has it out for humans. Cone shell snails are often beautiful, with plain, spotted, or striped cone-shaped shells, but they can seriously injure and even kill humans. They are most often found in reef waters, sand flats, tidal pools, and mud. Safety information: Wear water shoes or sandals when exploring any of the aforementioned areas. Be careful about picking up shells, and keep a close eye on children. If you experience pain, blurry vision, disturbed speech or hearing, swelling, numbness, or nausea, seek immediate medical attention.
• Stonefish: The stonefish is the most venomous fish in the world, with 13 toxin-filled spines lining its back. They are found on the seabed and in tidal inlets. True to their name, stonefish are virtually indistinguishable from rocks. Safety information: Wear water shoes, watch where you step, and tread lightly. Contact with stonefish spines causes intense pain and muscle weakness and requires immediate medical attention.
• Plants: As if the animals weren’t enough, Australia also has poisonous plants in its arsenal of dangerous organisms. The Gympie bush —a large shrub with heart-shaped leaves—is found throughout Queensland and can sting anyone who gets too close with its tiny, toxic hairs. Symptoms include a stinging sensation and redness; in extreme cases, the plant may cause death. Safety information: To remove the stinging hair, affix plaster or a bandaid to the area of the wound and then peel it off. As always, seek immediate medical attention.