Most threatening animals in Victoria revealed
There are plenty of deadly animals in Victoria, from snakes and sharks to bluebottles and wasps. Find out where they are lurking.
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Victoria is home to beasts big and small — and there plenty of them who aren’t so cuddly if you get too close to them. Here is a list of some recent close encounters from across the state.
Shark lurks in Sorrento shallows
Sorrento swimmers were told to get out of the water last week after a massive great white shark was spotted in the shallows near the pier.
Vic Emergency issued a warning to beachgoers to avoid the popular swimming spot, and said any shark more than 2m in length was considered dangerous.
Snake sets up shop in Sunbury playground
A poisonous snake has made itself at home in a Sunbury playground, with locals furious the council failed to take action to keep children safe.
Multiple sightings were reported at the Galaxy Land playground, and a local snake catcher said he had received more than 15 calls about the reptile this summer.
Cows stampede through Pakenham
A herd of cows ploughed through Pakenham last month.
More than 100 cows escaped from a Tommuc Valley Rd property before dawn last Thursday and stampeded through the sleepy suburb, with police spending hours rounding up the escapees.
Yackandandah wasp infestation
European wasps regularly terrorise the residents of Yackandandah, wreaking havoc on local businesses.
Shop owners have been forced to display warning signs in their windows, and are concerned about the wasps’ impact on tourism.
The meat-eaters feast on dead insects stuck to the windshields of cars passing through the small country town.
Magpies swoop innocent passers-by
Magpies run rampant around the state during certain times of the year, with one Yarrawonga man almost losing his eye in a swooping incident in 2021.
See more swooping hotspots below.
Rise in bluebottles at Cape Woolamai poses risk to swimmers
Bluebottle jellyfish were spotted washed up around Cape Woolamai at the start of the year, sparking alarm among beachgoers.
If stung, Lifesaving Victoria suggests rinsing the affected area with saltwater before soaking in hot water.
Poisonous toad found in Huntingdale
A dangerous toad — usually only found in South-East Asia — was discovered in Huntingdale.
The Asian black-spined toad poses a severe biosecurity threat, and could be fatal to any native wildlife or pets that try to consume them.
Kangaroos threaten driver safety in Heathcote
Heathcote was last year named the state’s hotspot for animals being killed in collisions with cars.
Kangaroos were the most likely to be fatally struck, but the marsupials also pose a threat to drivers who hit them at speed.
Mornington Peninsula: hotspot for mosquitoes carrying possum bacteria
Bites from mosquitoes carrying a flesh-eating bacteria have become increasingly common in coastal Victoria, with Mornington Peninsula thought to have one of the highest rates of the Buruli ulcer in the world.
New research has confirmed the bacteria is spread from possums to humans through mosquitoes.
Victoria has its fair share of dangerous animals, but a brave Queensland girl has shown Australians how to best handle them.
Rosie, 12, wrestled her beloved guinea pig from the clutches of a massive snake.
See the shocking video below.
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