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I always find it a little amusing when Americans worry about Australia being dangerous - I get why the Europeans do, but Americans have poisonous snakes, and poisonous spiders in fair numbers, and alligators that are a fair match for our crocodiles - and then you also have bears. And mountain lions. Which we don't have (we may have a few wild cats roaming around, possible descendants of Second World War mascots, but there's no real proof and if they are out there, it's in tiny numbers).

I'm not all that worried about Australia being dangerous, it's the politicians and the people who elect them that put me off visiting that part of the world. Another difference is that in the USA we're allowed to go armed and can shoot things that would eat us - try buying one of these in Australia. Australians just have to bend over (and are apparently OK with that.)

I hunt. Bears and mountain lions don’t creep me out. Gators are mostly innocuous (mostly…not always). It’s poison things that get to me.

I’ve come into close contact with rattlers…twice. The fact that something crawling underfoot that God decided to equip with poison filled hypodermic needles bothers me. I give them a wide berth…if I can. I tend to shoot first and ask questions later if they are too close to where I live my life.
I’ve heard of black widow spiders all my life. Never saw one though.

Most species of snakes in North America are non poisonous. Most snakes in Australia ARE poisonous. Weird how that works.

I tend to take take to the wild here from Fall through early spring when it’s cool. No snakes or bugs in the cold weather. I’ve seen Bears while hunting. Wasn’t hunting them so I watched them and enjoyed the view.

Good times.

I always find it a little amusing when Americans worry about Australia being dangerous - I get why the Europeans do, but Americans have poisonous snakes, and poisonous spiders in fair numbers, and alligators that are a fair match for our crocodiles - and then you also have bears. And mountain lions. Which we don't have (we may have a few wild cats roaming around, possible descendants of Second World War mascots, but there's no real proof and if they are out there, it's in tiny numbers).

Good points.

As someone who has now spent nine months over the last three years in Australia, most of Australia is quite safe.

I worried very little about poisonous beasties.

Running out of fuel, breaking down in remote locations, running out of water... much more serious concerns.

While Australia has some rough spots where you need to watch your back, what country does not?

America has far more places to worry about the most dangerous predator, man, than Australia does.

One of Australia's "First World Problems" is their city dwellers are so safe and civilized, they have no fear of savages, of whatever stripe.