Why in Australia it is more deadly to be in bed than to encounter a dangerous animal

Spiders. Snakes. Jellyfish. And then there are sharks and crocodiles. Just reading the names of these animals can give you the creeps.

Many people have concerns about the large number of dangerous and venomous creatures that live in every nook and cranny of the country before they travel to Australia.

And indeed, Australia is home to the most venomous animals in the world.

Australia’s 10 most dangerous animals

You should mainly give these fellows a wide berth:

1. Box Jellyfish

These painful creatures are mainly found in the coastal region of Northern Australia. They are light blue and transparent. Their venom contains toxins that attack the heart, nervous system and skin cells.

2. Blue-ringed Octopus

The blue-ringed octopus lives in the shallow coastal areas of Australia up to a depth of 50 meters. If you see one of these octopuses glowing brightly, you should quickly back away. This is because the glow means that the octopus feels threatened. Their venom can be fatal to humans

3. Stone Fish

The stonefish is one of the most venomous fish in the world. Its venom can be fatal if not treated. The fish are good at camouflaging themselves and can be found on the beach, not just in the water, as they can survive outside of water for up to 24 hours.

4. Redback Spider

Only the soft parts are venomous and the spider is not aggressive in itself. You don’t even feel the bite at first. However, the subsequent abdominal pain is extreme and lasts for about 12 hours before it subsides. But there is an anti-venom for it.

5. Funnelweb Spider

There are several species. The most dangerous of these lives in the urban region in and around Sydney. It loves humid areas and builds funnel-shaped webs. If you see one of these, it’s best to give it a wide berth. You should also check public toilets before you sit down anywhere.

6. Brown Snake

7. Tiger Snake

8. Great White Shark

9. Taipan

The Taipan is the most venomous snake in the world.

10. Saltwater Crocodiles

Dangerous animals in Australia? Who cares!

But I can put your mind at rest. Don’t let all the scaremongering and stories of deadly encounters with Australian wildlife get you down. Most of it is grossly exaggerated.

It’s highly unlikely that you’ll ever encounter many of these animals. And with a little common sense, you can avoid coming face to face with the creatures on this list.

You can do this by doing simple things like:

• Stamp your feet on the ground when you are walking somewhere in the jungle. Because snakes do not hear. However, they feel vibrations very strongly and would rather disappear than mess with someone else.
• Do not go into the water in the rainy season in tropical and subtropical climates, or only where there are jellyfish nets.
• Do not go into or near the water in crocodile areas, especially when camping by rivers or the like.
• Watch out for shark warnings when surfing. There is also a website for Western Australia for this: www.sharksmart.com.au.
• Swim between the flags so that the lifeguard can keep an eye on you.
• Check public toilets first to see if there is a dangerous spider hanging around.
• When camping, do not leave any food or rubbish outside.
• Never go swimming, surfing or diving alone.
• Sleep in your car when you go camping in more dangerous places.
• Pay attention to warning signs.

Horses, water pipes and bees are more dangerous

You may not believe it, but in Australia more people die each year from riding horses, touching hot water pipes or being stung by honey bees than from venomous animals.

How do I know this?

I took a look at the Causes of Death report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). You can see for yourself by clicking on the link. The most recent statistics are from 2023. You can find the Excel file with all the details here (“Underlying causes of death – Australia”).

Beware of beds and chairs!

While reading the Excel document, I noticed something totally absurd: in 2023, people actually did die from falling out of bed. And not just a few. The statistics show a total of 88 deaths!! (By the way: in 2018 there were only 83).

Well. When I look into some hostel dorms, I’m not really surprised.

By comparison, there were “only” 8 deaths from contact with poisonous animals and plants. This is only 0.01% of all deaths. Two of these deaths were caused by poisonous snakes and lizards and six by bees and wasps (in 2018, these figures were slightly higher). Spiders were not responsible for a single death.

Crocodiles have claimed one life in 2023. Contact with aquatic animals in general resulted in two deaths in 2023.

Interesting fact: In addition to beds, chairs are also much more dangerous than all the poisonous animals in Australia. 33 people have died in Australia in 2023 falling off a chair.

That’s pretty weird. The snake I saw at night on the campground in Kakadu National Park, which was most likely venomous, was less dangerous than the chair I was sitting on at the time. Statistically speaking, of course.

Conclusion about poisonous animals in Australia

The message of this article is not that you should worry more about beds and chairs than about crocodiles, spiders, sharks and the like. But you shouldn’t worry too much about these animals when traveling in Australia either. If you follow the tips at the beginning of the article and use common sense, nothing will happen to you.

Poisonous animals should not deter you from traveling to Australia. Remember: Always stay relaxed and don’t be so afraid.

What experiences have you had with dangerous animals? Write it in the comments.