Living in the Country

[Eric E]

Found this little fellow by the mailbox this afternoon. 

We have these guys around all the time. Timber Rattlesnakes. Thank goodness I've never stepped on one, or been bitten by one. This guy was about three feet. 

[gweilgi]

What do they taste like?

 

[demer]

Honesty how do you guys do it? Because the internet has led me to believe that everything is trying to kill you at all times in Australia.

[Fuzz]

Animals are the least of things you have to worry about endangering your life in Australia. It's the politicians that will really get you!

[ayepatz]

You guys have it easy. Try living with this evil Scottish predator.

The "wee-bastard" midge.

[stogieluver]

43 minutes ago, demer said:

Honesty how do you guys do it? Because the internet has led me to believe that everything is trying to kill you at all times in Australia.

He lives in Alabama.  We have lots of creepy crawly, slithering, floating, swimming things here that will kill you AND eat you. And that's just the people who live here!  Not to mention the poisonous snakes, alligators, sharks, bears, jelly fish, and spiders. 

[KnightsAnole]

Who mails a rattlesnake without proper packaging? Glad it arrived safe and sound, Bon appetite.

[cigaraholic]

Scientologist's mail rattlesnakes without proper packaging ?

[Ken Gargett]

1 hour ago, stogieluver said:

He lives in Alabama.  We have lots of creepy crawly, slithering, floating, swimming things here that will kill you AND eat you. And that's just the people who live here!  Not to mention the poisonous snakes, alligators, sharks, bears, jelly fish, and spiders. 

you call that a snake?

ha! we'll put up our snakes, crocs, sharks, drop bears, jellyfish and spiders against any country. 

our politicians, you can have for free. 

[PapaDisco]

23 minutes ago, Ken Gargett said:

you call that a snake?

ha! we'll put up our snakes, crocs, sharks, drop bears, jellyfish and spiders against any country. 

our politicians, you can have for free. 

Yeah, but y'all still have that cuddly Koala which pretty much takes all the macho out of everything else . . .   

[stogieluver]

8 minutes ago, PapaDisco said:

Yeah, but y'all still have that cuddly Koala which pretty much takes all the macho out of everything else . . .   

And that damned platypus.  "pus"?  Just go ahead and hand in your Man Cards on that one!  That's one scary creature. 

But Ken is right, I'll have to admit.  They got some bad mofo's down there. 

[Jeremy Festa]

8 minutes ago, stogieluver said:

And that damned platypus.  "pus"?  Just go ahead and hand in your Man Cards on that one!  That's one scary creature. 

But Ken is right, I'll have to admit.  They got some bad mofo's down there. 

You know a platypus is poisonous right?

[Fuzz]

How about this cuddly little fella?

 

Looks so cute and nice to hold, right? However if he bites you, you'll be very sorry. Tassie Devils have ridiculous bite strength for their size.

 

[Fuzz]

7 minutes ago, Jerocco said:

You know a platypus is poisonous right?

Platypus venom is excruciatingly painful, but not lethal. However, the effects can last for months (sometimes years) after being envenomed. Some reports have stated that morphine has no effect to reduce the pain.

[jwr0201]

14 minutes ago, Fuzz said:

How about this cuddly little fella?

Can these little buggers be tamed enough to be a pet?  Closest I've come is a pet skunk and a pet raccoon.  

Looks so cute and nice to hold, right? However if he bites you, you'll be very sorry. Tassie Devils have ridiculous bite strength for their size.

 

 

[stogieluver]

20 minutes ago, Jerocco said:

You know a platypus is poisonous right?

Didn't know that.  You get your Man Cards back.  And y'all win the Bad Ass Creatures Contest. 

[Ken Gargett]

8 minutes ago, stogieluver said:

Didn't know that.  You get your Man Cards back.  And y'all win the Bad Ass Creatures Contest. 

i saw that post and just started pissing myself. this is why tourists are such easy victims. just ask our crocs! 

even our cuddlies are poisonous. they have a spur near their hind legs and will happily bury it into anything that bothers them. apparently they can drive the spurs in so deeply that if they went into, say, your arm, you could lift your arm and the platypus comes with it. 

and there are plenty of people who have thought it would nice to have a photo with a koala (beware the drop bears), only to discover they have claws and can be very grumpy and leave a nasty gash. but their best trick is to piss on you - the number of politicians who have had a photo opp go wrong...

that said, of all the nasties in my back yard, the platypus is my favourite, though they are largely nocturnal so very rarely seen.  

but why does no one ever mention the stonefish? it gets so little love! 

[cigcars]

   *Well, in Kentucky we have "The Turtleman" who has his own show now on cable called, "Call of the Wildman."  And we just put in a call to him and his "crew", Neal James and Lolly the Wonder Dog, and they'll take care of any and every critter you're plagued with or bothered by!  Always uses his bare hands to catch 'em; be it skunk or snake; bobcat or beaver.  'Sure nuff!  "YEYYEYEYEYEYEYEYEYEYEYYEEEEE!!!"  

[Fuzz]

Reef stonefish spines can easily penetrate the rubber sole of your shoe. Think about that the next time you want to go barefoot in a rock pool. Their venom is considered the most potent of all fish. Some parts of the venom are similar to the black widow spider.

[Ken Gargett]

8 minutes ago, Fuzz said:

Reef stonefish spines can easily penetrate the rubber sole of your shoe. Think about that the next time you want to go barefoot in a rock pool. Their venom is considered the most potent of all fish. Some parts of the venom are similar to the black widow spider.

i remember driving on the beach at fraser island many years ago with my old man. spotted something 50 metres from waters edge, way up in the start of the dunes. looked like a stonefish. we went back and sure enough, a stonefish, still alive. been washed up by the storm the night before. one of the biggest anyone had ever seen - a bloke with the group bottled it in formaldehyde for scientists. and then pinched it - bastard. apparently agonising venom.

but if you get a chance in an aquarium, check out the eyes. they have truly extraordinary eyes. beautifully coloured and they seem to go on forever. so deep. told that to a marine biologist once. she thought i was mad. two weeks later, she rang me in awe. 

mind you, i am glad we do not have electric eels or candiru. 

but why no love for the poor cone shells? or the tiny blue-ringed octopus? 

[PapaDisco]

1 hour ago, Jerocco said:

You know a platypus is poisonous right?

Aw quite yer whining!  It's only the males that are poisonous.   That leaves 50% for "cute and cuddly!"  

[Ken Gargett]

5 minutes ago, PapaDisco said:

Aw quite yer whining!  It's only the males that are poisonous.   That leaves 50% for "cute and cuddly!"  

females are when young - a warning to stay away from the underaged! 

[polarbear]

Wombats are ok, until you hit one with a car

...or try to pat one

[PapaDisco]

22 minutes ago, polarbear said:

Wombats are ok, until you hit one with a car

...or try to pat one

Um . . . what happens when you hit a wombat with a car? 

[polarbear]

5 minutes ago, PapaDisco said:

Um . . . what happens when you hit a wombat with a car? 

Taken from http://www.convictcreations.com/animals/wombat.htm

"nowadays they pose a danger to humans when they wander on roads and are hit by passing motorists. A huge barrel of muscle with a low centre of gravity, Wombats may act as a launching ramp that sends the car skywards and off the road"