What are the normal everyday "bitey" critters do you need to be aware of Jim ? I know you have some wicked critters...buy what do you look out for everyday?
Bruce, the main things in no particular order -
Snakes - these are a constant concern and we see them all the time, always have to be on the lookout and be careful of picking anything up in the yard (ALWAYS have to watch the two little terriers (4lb - 5lb dripping wet), so many dogs get snake bit its always a major worry)they swim over from the bushland across from us and come from the bush behind and around us.
Spiders - always careful for spiders and there's so many bad species of them. Just the normal things like be careful picking things up in the yard and outbuildings etc ALWAYS shake boots & shoes. Pretty much let live outside the house (unless they're Funnel Webs, Red Backs or White Tips) any inside the house (unless Huntsman's) its a kill policy.
Goanna's - these are fairly frequent and being 6' - 8' feet long monitor lizards are again a worry for us with the little terriers.
Sea Eagles & Wedge Tail Eagles - these are always roosting in trees across the water from us and circling above hunting.....again the worry is the little terriers. Wedgies are beautifully elegant birds with a wingspan over 9' that can easily take lambs.
Snakes - Did I mention snakes?
Ticks - These are bastards and are a major curse. On the East Coast we have the venomous Paralysis Tick which the roo's, bandicoots, possums, wombats are natural hosts (and are immune to the Paralysis Tick's venom) and because we have so many of those animals around we have a huge tick burden. They kill untold dogs a year (horribly) our dogs are on monthly tick treatments but we still daily search them. There is a tick anti-serum now (its expensive) and if you get your dog to the vet earlier enough there is a good chance of your dog recovering. The Paralysis Tick are just utter bastards, we get on average one or two a week on us. They can take down cows, horses, sheep, all introduced animals they don't have an immunity to the venom.
In the lake and ocean we're
always careful of Fortescues (a mini stone fish), stinging jelly fish, Morey eels when we're getting Abalone, Blue Ringed Octopus, Blue Bottles (Portuguese man o' war), Cone Shells, Sea Snakes & Sting Rays......and of course sharks are always,
always in the back of your mind.
But remember with all the above.....you're probably got more chance of serious injury at night hitting a big roo in the dark and him coming through the windscreen.