Common sense on your continent

[November]

Inspired by @Amber Bunny Slippers shock of snakes, what common sense behaviours are consistant with your continent?

Spring time is snake time in the lower half of Oz. One of those "be aware, not alarmed" type things. Bush and nature activities face a constant threat from deadly snake bites, but if you can avoid them, they will avoid you. Busy places are generally safe. But those on the boundries accept spring time snakes as part of life. Of course, snakes are around all year, but much more active in spring. I cannot think of a spring season in my life where I have not seen them. They scare the crap outta me every time!

Born aussies generally know how to swim from a very young age, many before they can walk. Our warm climate makes for a water loving lifestyle.

What threats of nature, or lifestyle behaviours are ingrained in your societies space on the earth?

 

[ILLYRIAN]

I heard the rumour that one of the things that are manufactured here can go with Amber Bunny Slippers snakes. Australians do the ladders for the game.
What they said about snakes in the film Tomorrow When The War Began is the only deadly snakes in Australia are the ones that bite.

 

[caitaintdead]

Always having sunglasses with you!

I am always shocked that people in the UK never have sunnies with them, whereas I always have a spare pair in my car and used to keep a spare pair at work too. On the same note, always wearing sunscreen. We have a hole in the ozone layer and sunscreen is a MUST or you will end up burnt.

Also, flyscreens. We have so so so many flies (especially bad in warmer months) that there is no way you can have open windows/doors.

 

[nightshade]

am always shocked that people in the UK never have sunnies with them, whereas I always have a spare pair in my car and used to keep a spare pair at work too.

I might own a pair, somewhere! Not sure!

Don't buy cheap umbrellas, they only turn inside out in the wind.

 

[Taake]

Spring time is snake time in the lower half of Oz. One of those "be aware, not alarmed" type things.

Same. We only have vipers that are poisonous, but it can be deadly, especially to pets. It always scares me that my dog will go poking her nose in the wrong place.
Another common sense thing in the spring - getting vaccinated against TBE and/or anti-tick spray / pills / collars etc for pets and people.

I'd say a very lifestyle behavior thing here is "there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing"... Swedes are outside regardless of the weather and not just dog owners, though during blizzards it's mostly dog owners. 😛

When I was a kid we'd put crunchy bread in our Wellies when we went into the woods, because badgers bite until they hear bones crack... not sure that's so much common sense actually, now that I think about it. But most people my age seems to have been taught the same lesson.

 

[November]

When I was a kid we'd put crunchy bread in our Wellies when we went into the woods, because badgers bite until they hear bones crack...

I wonder if that would work for lizards! They tend to latch on. But its all good if you don't let them get a latch. They hiss so its not like we weren't warned! I've known more than one pupper that needed surgery to remove them because their jaws lock on even after death.

Another aussie one, don't swim in the ocean at dusk, in dull/dark weather, through schools of salmon or seals. Just asking to be shark bait. They don't like crunchy bones, but you'll be dead when they spit you out anyway.

"there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing"

I seriously need suitable winter clothing. I am leaning towards headscarves too. Nothing made for target seems warm enough!! And on that note - Always check your shoes and clothes before putting them on. I am waiting for a snake to enjoy a snooze in my boots.

 

[The Bronze]

Leave early. You're going to get stuck in traffic on the road or run into unspecified delays on the trains.

When I was a kid we'd put crunchy bread in our Wellies when we went into the woods, because badgers bite until they hear bones crack...

This raises the important question of have you ever fought a badger?

 

[Taake]

Another aussie one, don't swim in the ocean at dusk, in dull/dark weather, through schools of salmon or seals. Just asking to be shark bait. They don't like crunchy bones, but you'll be dead when they spit you out anyway.

And on that note - Always check your shoes and clothes before putting them on. I am waiting for a snake to enjoy a snooze in my boots.

You're almost making me happy my dad didn't move us to Australia when I was a kid. Haha, snake snoozing is horrifying. Also, lol, they don't like crunchy bones but you'll be dead anyway.

This raises the important question of have you ever fought a badger?

Of course not, crunchy bread for the win!
I mean, technically dogs in my life have fought off badgers for me,.. so I guess bring a dog is more common sense than crunchy bread in shoes… but can we really be sure it wasn't the bread? I'm not so sure.

 

[The Bronze]

but can we really be sure it wasn't the bread? I'm not so sure.

Stert selling it as a badger defence mechanism and make a fortune.

 

[November]

Speaking of driving trips, Always have water in the car.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Nothing. Maybe the only thing is brown recluse spider. But rarely bother. Just need to be careful out hiking in the woods.

About 6mm in size but can do this...
GRAPHIC CAUTION TO YOU SENSITIVE TYPES

Spoiler

[/spoiler

 

[Bluebird]

Scotland has an extremely annoying mosquito type fly called a midgie, which catches out tourists. You wouldn't think you'd need a mosquito net beyond the wall. But if you're camping in the Scottish countryside beware the midgie and be prepared - sometimes the swarms are so big it may as well be a fog cloud.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Scotland has an extremely annoying mosquito type fly called a midgie, which catches out tourists. You wouldn't think you'd need a mosquito net beyond the wall. But if you're camping in the Scottish countryside beware the midgie and be prepared - sometimes the swarms are so big it may as well be a fog cloud.

That sounds like the noseeums in Alaska.

 

[Taake]

What threats of nature, or lifestyle behaviours are ingrained in your societies space on the earth?

I just saw this on the old interwebs and it made me laugh and think of this thread

 

[sk]

I'd say a very lifestyle behavior thing here is "there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing"... Swedes are outside regardless of the weather and not just dog owners, though during blizzards it's mostly dog owners. 😛

As a Swede I don't recognize myself with this lol
I'm never outside in bad weather if I can help it.

Also, if the weather demands some special clothing, like a raincoat or something, then the weather is bad. Period.

/SK

 

[November]

We have had "no hat, no play" drilled into us since the 80's, and "slip slop slap" cos even if its sunny, it's not always ideal for being out in.

Never turn your back on the ocean of the south coast. King waves kill. But, if you're stupid enough to go rock fishing, maybe you desire death.

 

[caitaintdead]

We have had "no hat, no play" drilled into us since the 80's, and "slip slop slap" cos even if its sunny, it's not always ideal for being out in.

Never turn your back on the ocean of the south coast. King waves kill. But, if you're stupid enough to go rock fishing, maybe you desire death.

Oh my God 'no hat, no play' was the bane of my existence as a pre-teen. We had to wear the hat with the flap at the back.


And it was an ongoing battle to NOT wear one. We would put our hats on for a second to run down to the back of the oval and then take it off immediately. Most of the time the teachers were too lazy to walk all the way down to the back of the oval.

 

[AnthonyCordova]

We have bears and mountain lions up in the mountains, so some of our common sense advice is to avoid hiking at dusk/dawn, hike in groups, make noise, take something like bear spray with you, etc.

 

[November]

I totally prefer snakes over bears and lions. Often wonder if capsicum spray would work on snakes... Bushwalking alone is bliss.

There are reports of panther-like creatures in deep bush here (I am learning that deep bush is as unexplored as the deep ocean). I used to ride for a guy who had a pony covered in cat like claw scars. He claimed he saw the panther that did it. Other farmers/wives often talk about mutilated sheep and roo bodies being dragged up into trees. Many wont jog or trailride at dusk. There are even reports and photos from near the city, but I suspect those are just large or mutated feral pussy cats. The theory is, the US navy had these animals on board when they docked at our army port but were unable to take them back to the US and released them here. There are obviously not native, nor in huge numbers. I wouldnt believe if I hadnt met the pony myself, or seen roo bones 10m up a tree.

@caitaintdead those hats make mullets look sexy 😱

 

[Allie]

The only snakes I have ever seen here are garden snakes. Our main thing is mosquitoes and we have god awful humidity, you can't keep a nice hairstyle long at all. As far as wild animals, we mainly only have possums and racoons. So we always have insect repellent and I never go anywhere without sunglasses.