Comments by "Helmuth Schultes" (@helmuthschultes9243) on "American Reacts to 7 of Australia's Most Terrifying Inhabitants" video.
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Magpies are only a prpblem for scared people. I first got attacked when 8 yrs old, walking along a field. I ended up running thinking it was going to kill me, I dod end up bleeding behind one ear as it got hit multiple times. Next time I had my cap cowboy pistol and on attack, I turned and let off a couple of bangs. But soon observed the secret on turning to face the magpie, they stop attacking. I have sonce been in trouble many times at school and on streets, becaise I was tempting them to dare to attack Always scaring them away by facing them, of course that makes the magpie attack others even more. Thus getting into trouble for teaching them to attack. That facing method is one better solution than spikes on the bike helmet, paint a simulated face on the top, even just a pair of large eyes, no more magpie swooping attack.
The large centipedes are certainly large and potentially dangerous. The wife of friends, living in Adelaide, tried to swipe a large one away on her kitchen bench but using bare hands, got nipped. Ended in hospital for near three weeks, in intensive care for two of those. Could have died. Experienced hindreds on a lawn camping site at Uluru (Ayres rock) resort. On setting up our tents on the lawn space for tent camping, there were dozens of small sand mounds on the dirt road and lawns. Many around a provided barbeque area. At early evening a large one over 10cm, 4 inch, long vlimbed up one of our tents. I caught it in a small plastic box, take away food container, which I have a number of to collect various bugs and critters while 4WD camping. Soon I had many more. Within the hour there were hundreds milling around the barbeque area, and many all over tents and lawn. My own tent was safe as it has a sealed floor, more of a problem for several others camping, with tents without sealed floor, as they had these centipedes inside and outside their tents. Lots of insect spray was used by many people. I slept fine with shadows of centipedes over the outside of the tent visible by moon light. By daylight there were only the small sand mounds and holes in the ground, after three days camping on pulling the tent down I had about six centipedes under the tent, no issues. Others were sweeping away lots of dead centipedes and cleaning out bedding, and boxes of possessions of the enclosed live centipedes. Jay for closed floor tents! No one was bitten though I had to warn children, via their parents to not stomping over the many centipedes, especially some kids in sandals, very high risk of bites, closed shoes less so.
Ticks, yes care needed, but again closed tents are good, had many bush camps where ticks were seen crawling outside surfaces and mosquito mesh entry way/vent window. Had no bites in 40 yrs of camping, but had some on clothes while hiking. And two trying to attach at a rest stop, lunch break with grassy area around seats and tables. Leeches on hikes in wet country, but also high on mountain tracks, black blobs on rocks, like stuckon chewing gum. On contact they would stretch up and wave around looking to attach.
Jelly fish can be an issue, far north beaches are closed to swimming in summer season due to box jellyfish, 'Portuguese man of war' most known mame, and related families, the tiny Irukanji are nasty, as only millimeyer long and clear, not at all visible, and with meter long tenticles a real problem, compared to the hazardous larger types. Bluebottle types, related to box jellyfish smaller and not so deadly, occur depending on prevailing winds all the way to Victoria. Mainly painful, not so deadly, are when driven to swimming beaches causing trouble, even closing beach to swimming. Young son of family friends was warned not to throw ones washed up on the beach at other children. For a while all, ok, then a major hullabaloo, he was screaming and feared he was dying. He again had grabbed a handful to throw and nice freshly washed up ones, on throwing ended up draping dozens of tentacles over his own back and legs. He took hours to recover, never again to touch them. Treating with vinegar eased the pain but memory of pain was embedded. Same kid learned some ants leave strong pain too at another camping location. Not even big ants but little black jumping ants about 2 mm long.
Damgerous plants are difficult as only awareness and recognition learned can save you.
Realistically most people never have issues with the many potential hazards, in fact most never see these in their whole long lives. People like me actually seeking and catching many such creatures can count on fingers the number of times the more dangerous have been found, caught or even handled. I have had many snakes, spiders, scorpions, Blue Ring Octopus (deadly too), sharks, Stingray, Cone shell( deadly too), various jelly fish including Box Jellyfish, big deep sea Jellyfish about 1m diameter . Have earned "bug man " title on a couple of extended trips, due to hunting up interesting, and some dangerous creatures, but also introduced people to geology, fossils, birds and other animals. Amazed the wife of a work colleague, who is a primary school teacher, how quickly I got her three children, 10, 10 and 6, interested in insects, geology, gem fossicking, astronomy, generally involved in the world around us, during a month long 4WD trip through central Australian deserts.
Never fear Australia, it is not all out to kill you, in most cases you never see any of these dangerous creatures or plants. But never forget, you are not in your suburban neat relative safe backyard, but in real wide nature, keep aware and observant.
On snakes, do not make my fathers big mistake that they only crawl on the ground, but can be, quite often, among branches of bushes and trees too. My father got scared when realising after years of carefully looking only on the ground to not step on a snake, they more frequently could be among branches he pushed aside. By the way he never had snake experiences except those I caught or found while fishing at lake/river side.
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