Ian up in NT (gaa ian) has mentioned that he has been near Crocs when observing.
Plenty of snakes and spiders around at night no matter where you are in Oz. You just don't normally think about them so you aren't aware of them.
No snakes or any bugs much at the moment. They don't like the cold eather and wait til it is warmer. No mozzies is the only positive thing about observing when it is about 0 degC.
No snakes or any bugs much at the moment. They don't like the cold eather and wait til it is warmer. No mozzies is the only positive thing about observing when it is about 0 degC.
Be even worse up Guyra way...geez if it's 0 in Armidale it'd be cold enough to freeze steel brittle up the hill!!!
I still remember my first really dark night out in the Blue Mountains by myself, and all I ended up thinking about was every single noise in the bush around me was a cat trying to kill me.
"I have just received positive information that two very large full grown mountain lions were spotted at 2am last evening three miles down the road from the peak."
Nothing to be scared about, here, in Oz! Are you kidding!
My most terrifying experience came some 20 years ago in the Wollemi National Park, the same one that hid the 'dinosour' pine.
I don't talk much about it as doing so aggrivates shingles I get so anxious about it.
I was camping alone in the park, way back then. The site took me two day's hike to reach on foot. Marvellous site too- creek side, green due to recent rain, and very, very isolated.
While setting up the tent, a big, old grey boomer came hopping close by along the creek's shoreline, thump, thump, thump.
Suddenly, no sooner did it go under a huge gum tree, BAM! A drop bear fell down onto the unsuspecting boomer's back, the roo more concerned with my presence than the danger up in the tree. The vile creature yanked the boomer's head back, and its enourmous fangs sank into the roo's soft throat! The roo hit the deck, drop bear was flung of its back, only to race back to the writhing boomer to finish it off!
The screams of the drop bear as it fed aged me 20 years! I was so scared I dropped the gear in my hand and ran for my life! I made it back to my car in only a couple of hours.
I've never returned to the Wollemi since.
I've been told that the Pilliga State Forest is the only other lone bastion of the drop bear. You never, ever stop overnight at the Pilliga SF! Heaven's above, if the Pilliga SF is not too far from Coonabarabran too! You never hear about the lone astronomers who have gone outside of their observatories for a slash during the night, and have never returned! There's not a 5m high electrified fence around the obs for no reason!
Last edited by mental4astro; 23-07-2010 at 10:28 AM.
Yep he (more likely they) does concern me a little to be honest. There are simply too many photos of them for them to be dismissed as an urban myth. There have been several sightings in the districts that surround where I observe in the southern highlands and on cold, frosty nights when I walk off down the track into the bush to siphon the python (at my most vulnerable) you do worry about the sounds you hear -- but roos are pretty common down there too and nearly all sounds you hear are simply roos.
Mind you, I think a 6ft tall 100kg man is probably a little on the big side for a panther to happily have a go at as intended prey, particularly when there are lots of other smaller, easier (though admittedly somewhat faster) meals about. But they still concern me a little.
Brown snakes are a bit of a worry up at Mudgee in springtime when they are likely to be hungry, frisky and somewhat territorial. Tread loudly, talk loudly, throw sticks and rocks on your intended path 15m in front is my tactic.
In New Zealand of course there's nothing to worry you -- except the danger of freezing solid in winter if you stand still too long ...
Yep he (more likely they) does concern me a little to be honest. There are simply too many photos of them for them to be dismissed as an urban myth. There have been several sightings in the districts that surround where I observe in the southern highlands and on cold, frosty nights when I walk off down the track into the bush to siphon the python (at my most vulnerable) you do worry about the sounds you hear -- but roos are pretty common down there too and nearly all sounds you hear are simply roos.
Mind you, I think a 6ft tall 100kg man is probably a little on the big side for a panther to happily have a go at as intended prey, particularly when there are lots of other smaller, easier (though admittedly somewhat faster) meals about. But they still concern me a little.
Brown snakes are a bit of a worry up at Mudgee in springtime when they are likely to be hungry, frisky and somewhat territorial. Tread loudly, talk loudly, throw sticks and rocks on your intended path 15m in front is my tactic.
In New Zealand of course there's nothing to worry you -- except the danger of freezing solid in winter if you stand still too long ...
Any panther within about half a km of your scope is either as deaf as a post or has good taste in music! I haven't seen roos there, though they are obviously about, but I have had a possum sniffing around after my left-over fish and chips. I've also heard them in the trees quite often. "Pleasant" sounding little critters.
Jeez I wouldny fancy meeting that in the dark!!
One thing I have to say is that NZ may be cold and broke but the only thing over there you gotta worry about is some of the people!!
Isn't it pretty weird that we have lots of every thing and NZ has almost nothing?
If it wasnt always freezing blardy cold and every one wasnt poor there are bits of NZ I would def think about moving to like at Lake Tekapo.
Thinking back, maybe I have heard one or two roos, but they didn't really register. Yasmin can't remember any. Odd, because obviously they're about.
On the other matter, even if the 'panther' is real and about, why worry? Sightings of it/them have been about for ages and no one's been eaten. Even if it's there it doesn't fancy people for dinner. On the other hand, being alert may be the difference between a sighting or a missed opportunity.
