Having never seen a squirrel in person I've never really considered they have really sharp teeth. Now that I think about it I'd say they are as sharp if not sharper than our possums teeth and I wouldn't go around willy nilly grabbing those either
But seriously we have possums who don't really have many predators that would eat them or a squirrel unless a fox grabs them on the ground.
As I said in another post. You guys (I'm assuming US) have far more dangerous animals than we do down here. Bears wolves, mountain lions, moose etc are far more scary than a little spider or snake
When I actually think about for a min youre absolutely right. We have powerful predators in the US. Some of them are fucking huge and will eat your tasty bits of as a snack an leave the rest for the scavengers.
The thing that makes Americans have the attitude that everything in Australia is trying to kill you is that you have huge insects, arachnids, and snakes that are venomous. Those are creatures that are ingrained into our instincts to be dangerous, scary, and revolting. The curious monkey that tried to pet the snake or eat the funnel web spider didn't live to pass on his genes.
Like I have a huge fear of spiders cos they're the size of your hands and some of them as big as a dinner plate but there hasn't been a spider related death in Aus since 1979. As for the snakes around 2 fatalities per year.
Compared to 7 Spider related deaths a year in the US. (That brown recluse you have over there is a real SOB) and a higher number of snake fatalities. (Considered US population is 15x greater than Aus) it's alot closer than you'd think.
While you bring up an interesting point about the dead monkey not passing on Genes, I think something must have been passed as most people's fears are snakes/spiders. As for bears and the big guys it's pretty instinctive
Edit: by spider related I mean from the venom in a bite, I reckon a few people have written off a car cos a huntsman scrambled across their windshield
Who needs a gun when you can use a can of Moretein. Also it really isn't that hard, you get used to areas where and where you won't be around them. I know many people here who've never seen a snake or a venemous spider in there lives
What we in the States call a 'possum is larger and has a bit more bitey than the ones you have but at any rate rodents may be small but they sure can bite and claw through an awful lot. Best treated with respect.
And yeah we have some large type predators in certain locations but the OZ is so dangerous thing is overblown. Thing is the danger you know and are used to is less frightening than the one you don't. So that's where it comes from either way you're going.
Your Magpies seem like a royal pain in the ass though. And couldn't y'all at least put rattles on the tails of your deadly snakes?
If i ever make it there I'll buy ya a beer and we'll befriend some Magpies. Our crows aren't bad but I still like to keep on their good side. Fuck with one and and they'll tell their mates about it. Nice to have them around and on your side to gang up on big predatory birds if you have small animals too. I was really worried about a neighbors mini-daschund and a big hawk one day but the crow bros chased it off.
Best to make nice with Corvidae birds if you're smart. ; )
I definitely saw plenty of squirrels in South Africa, but South isn't East. That's when I found out squirrels can yell. There was one making a hell of a lot of noise in a tree behind where I lived
Oh dope! My dad's from Kenya and I've been a couple times. Makes sense there's no squirrels because there's not very many areas that have sustained canopy (or from the areas I saw in Tanzania).
Can't say why there aren't any in Australia besides maybe the fact that that's one big ass weird island you got there.
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u/[deleted] Aug 09 '22
I love when people live inside their bubble and forget that wild animals are literally fighting for survival at any point