Hobart mum bends down to pick up plush toy, gets a devil of a surprise
December 29, 2022 1:01 AM Subscribe
Chavenet - I wondered that too.
Delightful story. The Devil itself is clearly very young and very, very cute.
Ms Lynch lives next to bushland in Sandy Bay and sometimes leaves the door open for her puppy that's being toilet trained — she believes that was when the little opportunist decided to sneak in.
Yep. That'll do it.
posted by davidwitteveen at 2:24 AM on December 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
Delightful story. The Devil itself is clearly very young and very, very cute.
Ms Lynch lives next to bushland in Sandy Bay and sometimes leaves the door open for her puppy that's being toilet trained — she believes that was when the little opportunist decided to sneak in.
Yep. That'll do it.
posted by davidwitteveen at 2:24 AM on December 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
Mum Kirsten Lynch said she initially thought the animal was a stuffed toy and went to pick it up
The devil in disguise, as it were.
posted by Halloween Jack at 4:35 AM on December 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
The devil in disguise, as it were.
posted by Halloween Jack at 4:35 AM on December 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
Having always lived in extremely buggy places, I'm always amazed the things the rest of y'all get up to with open doors and windows and no screens.
posted by hydropsyche at 4:38 AM on December 29, 2022 [20 favorites]
posted by hydropsyche at 4:38 AM on December 29, 2022 [20 favorites]
So, this is my chance to finally have the Aussie rant I've needed to have my whole internet life. Fuckin Americans are all constantly like "oh you live in Australia, where all the animals try to kill you haha lol"
My dudes, you people literally go for a walk with SPRAY for BEARS so that BEARS DONT EAT YOUR SOFT AMERICAN FACE.
You have literal town ordinances that dictate how to store your food waste so that WILD ANIMALS DONT EAT YOUR SOFT AMERICAN FACE.
I see a spider, I'm like yeah, let's coexist my redback sistah. COUGAR FUCKIN RIPS YER NUTS OFF BRO.
Build a wall? Yeah, wall off Yosemite, ya pricks.
posted by prismatic7 at 5:40 AM on December 29, 2022 [43 favorites]
My dudes, you people literally go for a walk with SPRAY for BEARS so that BEARS DONT EAT YOUR SOFT AMERICAN FACE.
You have literal town ordinances that dictate how to store your food waste so that WILD ANIMALS DONT EAT YOUR SOFT AMERICAN FACE.
I see a spider, I'm like yeah, let's coexist my redback sistah. COUGAR FUCKIN RIPS YER NUTS OFF BRO.
Build a wall? Yeah, wall off Yosemite, ya pricks.
posted by prismatic7 at 5:40 AM on December 29, 2022 [43 favorites]
you people literally go for a walk with SPRAY for BEARS so that BEARS DONT EAT YOUR SOFT AMERICAN FACE
And Shark Repellent Bat Spray!
posted by chavenet at 6:32 AM on December 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
And Shark Repellent Bat Spray!
posted by chavenet at 6:32 AM on December 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
At least we're not Canada, where cars are left unlocked as refuge to escape polar bears.
posted by AzraelBrown at 6:40 AM on December 29, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by AzraelBrown at 6:40 AM on December 29, 2022 [8 favorites]
These little guys are so cute, and I m glad the dog didn't attack it
posted by eustatic at 6:50 AM on December 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by eustatic at 6:50 AM on December 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
I should add: Tasmanian Devils have one of the strongest bite force of any land animal relative to their size, and can crunch through bone.
Despite this, they are a lot less aggressive than you might expect, and they will usually run away from people, including running away from zoologists who are trying to research Tasmanian Devils...
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 7:02 AM on December 29, 2022 [16 favorites]
Despite this, they are a lot less aggressive than you might expect, and they will usually run away from people, including running away from zoologists who are trying to research Tasmanian Devils...
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 7:02 AM on December 29, 2022 [16 favorites]
For those who are wondering, human deaths caused by animals in Australia from most common to least common:
Horses = 172 deaths between 2001 and 2017
Cows = 82 deaths between 2001 and 2017
Dogs = 53 deaths between 2001 and 2017
Kangaroos (all car accidents) = 37 deaths between 2001 and 2017
Snakes = 37 deaths between 2001 and 2017
Bees = 31 deaths between 2001 and 2017
Sharks = 27 deaths between 2001 and 2017
Crocodiles = 21 deaths between 2001 and 2017
Source is here.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 7:16 AM on December 29, 2022 [11 favorites]
Horses = 172 deaths between 2001 and 2017
Cows = 82 deaths between 2001 and 2017
Dogs = 53 deaths between 2001 and 2017
Kangaroos (all car accidents) = 37 deaths between 2001 and 2017
Snakes = 37 deaths between 2001 and 2017
Bees = 31 deaths between 2001 and 2017
Sharks = 27 deaths between 2001 and 2017
Crocodiles = 21 deaths between 2001 and 2017
Source is here.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 7:16 AM on December 29, 2022 [11 favorites]
This sounds like an AI trying to write a Looney Tunes script.
posted by PlusDistance at 7:19 AM on December 29, 2022 [11 favorites]
posted by PlusDistance at 7:19 AM on December 29, 2022 [11 favorites]
I live on the north side of Chicago and I don't leave doors or windows open without screens. We've got bugs, squirrels, birds, possums, the occasional neighbor's cat and yes, even some mice and rats that are visitors to our yard and back deck. And I'm pretty sure there's bunnies living in a warren under one of our shrubs. Thankfully they don't cause much damage, but I see them around all the time and can see the tracks in the snow. Poor little devils.
I don't want wildlife inside my dwelling space.
posted by SoberHighland at 7:51 AM on December 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
I don't want wildlife inside my dwelling space.
posted by SoberHighland at 7:51 AM on December 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries
Hopefully not a sensitive subject....but, uh, how many due to cassowaries?
posted by gimonca at 7:53 AM on December 29, 2022 [6 favorites]
Hopefully not a sensitive subject....but, uh, how many due to cassowaries?
posted by gimonca at 7:53 AM on December 29, 2022 [6 favorites]
Looks like one due to cassowary attack -- so your point stands!
On the other hand, I was in Australia last month, and saw lots of people swimming in full-body lycra wetsuits due to the many friendly jellyfish. So there's that. Actual deaths from jellyfish do seem to be rare as well--but I hear the encounter is still unpleasant.
posted by gimonca at 7:59 AM on December 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
On the other hand, I was in Australia last month, and saw lots of people swimming in full-body lycra wetsuits due to the many friendly jellyfish. So there's that. Actual deaths from jellyfish do seem to be rare as well--but I hear the encounter is still unpleasant.
posted by gimonca at 7:59 AM on December 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
Envenoming across Australia.Australian Venomous Injury Project
Creature Deaths/Hospitalisations (2001-2013)
Snakes
27 Deaths
6,123 Hospitalisations
Hornets, wasps and bees
25 bee Deaths,
2 wasp Deaths
Hospitalisations 12,351
Spiders
Deaths 0
Hospitalisations 11,994
Ticks and Ants
Deaths 5
Hospitalisations 4,533
Marine animal
Deaths 3
Hospitalisations 3,707
Scorpions
Deaths 0
Hospitalisations 61
Centipedes / Millipedes
Deaths 0
Hospitalisations 119
Unknown animal or plant
Deaths 2
Hospitalisations 536
posted by y2karl at 8:09 AM on December 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
No sea snakes to blue ringed octopuses breakdown on Marine animals above
posted by y2karl at 8:16 AM on December 29, 2022
posted by y2karl at 8:16 AM on December 29, 2022
Hopefully not a sensitive subject....but, uh, how many due to cassowaries?
The last recorded human death due to a cassowary *in Australia* was April 6, 1926. 16-year-old Phillip McClean and his brother, age 13, came across a cassowary on their property and decided to try to kill it by striking it with clubs. The bird kicked the younger boy, who fell and ran away as his older brother struck the bird. The older McClean then tripped and fell to the ground. While he was on the ground, the cassowary kicked him in the neck, opening a 1.25-centimetre (1⁄2 in) wound that may have severed his jugular vein. The boy died of his injuries shortly thereafter.
There has been a more recent death due to a cassowary in the United States - it was a pet cassowary, so we don't know how it was treated before it caused a death.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 8:47 AM on December 29, 2022 [6 favorites]
The last recorded human death due to a cassowary *in Australia* was April 6, 1926. 16-year-old Phillip McClean and his brother, age 13, came across a cassowary on their property and decided to try to kill it by striking it with clubs. The bird kicked the younger boy, who fell and ran away as his older brother struck the bird. The older McClean then tripped and fell to the ground. While he was on the ground, the cassowary kicked him in the neck, opening a 1.25-centimetre (1⁄2 in) wound that may have severed his jugular vein. The boy died of his injuries shortly thereafter.
There has been a more recent death due to a cassowary in the United States - it was a pet cassowary, so we don't know how it was treated before it caused a death.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 8:47 AM on December 29, 2022 [6 favorites]
you people literally go for a walk with SPRAY for BEARS so that BEARS DONT EAT YOUR SOFT AMERICAN FACE
Look, we sometimes walk with bear/pepper spray in Canada too. And we wear bells so they are warned of our presence. The real trick to bear safety, though, is knowing if you are dealing with a black bear or a brown (grizzly bear); the best way to determine that before being face to face is to keep an eye out for bear scat. Black bear scat is usually dark in colour and often has berry seeds in it; grizzly bear scat is usually a larger pile, smells of pepper, and has bells in it.
posted by nubs at 9:10 AM on December 29, 2022 [28 favorites]
Look, we sometimes walk with bear/pepper spray in Canada too. And we wear bells so they are warned of our presence. The real trick to bear safety, though, is knowing if you are dealing with a black bear or a brown (grizzly bear); the best way to determine that before being face to face is to keep an eye out for bear scat. Black bear scat is usually dark in colour and often has berry seeds in it; grizzly bear scat is usually a larger pile, smells of pepper, and has bells in it.
posted by nubs at 9:10 AM on December 29, 2022 [28 favorites]
Here is a video of a Tasmanian Devil stealing a block of chocolate from someone's tent and running away with it.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 9:22 AM on December 29, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 9:22 AM on December 29, 2022 [4 favorites]
TIL that horses kill ~10 people a year in Australia so the REAL danger is clear
posted by ZaphodB at 9:26 AM on December 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by ZaphodB at 9:26 AM on December 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
TIL that horses kill ~10 people a year in Australia so the REAL danger is clear
To be fair, most of those people were people who were horseriding and fell off.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 9:34 AM on December 29, 2022
To be fair, most of those people were people who were horseriding and fell off.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 9:34 AM on December 29, 2022
Kangaroos (all car accidents)
Bit of a letdown there--I was hoping at least one was from punching.
posted by box at 9:39 AM on December 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
Bit of a letdown there--I was hoping at least one was from punching.
posted by box at 9:39 AM on December 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
Bit of a letdown there--I was hoping at least one was from punching.
A woman got a broken leg from being kicked by a kangaroo, but it's very rare - it's likely she accidentally got between an adult female kangaroo and its young joey.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 10:12 AM on December 29, 2022
A woman got a broken leg from being kicked by a kangaroo, but it's very rare - it's likely she accidentally got between an adult female kangaroo and its young joey.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 10:12 AM on December 29, 2022
Also, our prairie dogs carry the bubonic plague.
Which typically isn't that dangerous what with antibiotics, but it does sound ominous.
posted by tllaya at 10:20 AM on December 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
Which typically isn't that dangerous what with antibiotics, but it does sound ominous.
posted by tllaya at 10:20 AM on December 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
Also, our prairie dogs carry the bubonic plague.
Which typically isn't that dangerous what with antibiotics, but it does sound ominous.
Plus, the US has rabies.
No rabies in Australia, thanks to being an island and a rigorous quarantine for incoming cats and dogs...
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 10:24 AM on December 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
Which typically isn't that dangerous what with antibiotics, but it does sound ominous.
Plus, the US has rabies.
No rabies in Australia, thanks to being an island and a rigorous quarantine for incoming cats and dogs...
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 10:24 AM on December 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
prairie dogs, ground squirrels, chipmunks, are all plague vectors in the US west. particularly in the south but also throughout the Sierras. raccoons (terrifying enough already) have a generally high rabies incidence throughout the US. stay away from the cute little fuzzy animals.
I have seen baby skunks in the wild and they are one of the cutest things I have ever seen but I'm going to give them LOTSA personal space!!!
posted by supermedusa at 10:54 AM on December 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
I have seen baby skunks in the wild and they are one of the cutest things I have ever seen but I'm going to give them LOTSA personal space!!!
posted by supermedusa at 10:54 AM on December 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
omg this is all a totally "but USA!" derail, sorry :(
that baby devil is super cute but I can imagine that moment of touching a toy but "its an animal" would be pretty startling!!
posted by supermedusa at 10:55 AM on December 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
that baby devil is super cute but I can imagine that moment of touching a toy but "its an animal" would be pretty startling!!
posted by supermedusa at 10:55 AM on December 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
> "I have seen baby skunks in the wild and they are one of the cutest things I have ever seen"
THEIR LITTLE TAILS!
posted by kyrademon at 10:57 AM on December 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
THEIR LITTLE TAILS!
posted by kyrademon at 10:57 AM on December 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
Pshaw! Bears aren't dangerous. It's deer that are the number one animal killer in the US with like 125 deaths by deer annually.
raccoons (terrifying enough already) have a generally high rabies incidence throughout the US. stay away from the cute little fuzzy animals.
While unpleasant rabies transmission from raccoons is both rare and easily treated (if unfortunately in the US quite expensive). Raccoons also carry raccoon ringworm which is both common and something that can be spread via spores in the air. You really don't want wild raccoons anywhere near where you hang out.
posted by Mitheral at 11:20 AM on December 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
raccoons (terrifying enough already) have a generally high rabies incidence throughout the US. stay away from the cute little fuzzy animals.
While unpleasant rabies transmission from raccoons is both rare and easily treated (if unfortunately in the US quite expensive). Raccoons also carry raccoon ringworm which is both common and something that can be spread via spores in the air. You really don't want wild raccoons anywhere near where you hang out.
posted by Mitheral at 11:20 AM on December 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
Having always lived in extremely buggy places, I'm always amazed the things the rest of y'all get up to with open doors and windows and no screens.
This is one of the things I really love about living in the PNW.
There's almost no flying bugs, and in the spring, summer and well into the fall people just open their windows and doors without screens or screen doors and let the fresh air in.
It's not just people's homes or houses. You'll see coffee shops, cafes, bars or restaurants that have huge windows that are designed to be open and rolled out of the way and just open up and suddenly the whole place is like an open air patio, and it just works. Like, it's really amazing.
We do get some flying bugs but they tend to not come out until late summer. There may be a few days of flying termites. Or a week or two of mosquitoes, depending on your proximity to standing water. Some fruit flies and houseflies if you forgot to take the trash out. Oh, we do get some moths and a lot of butterflies.
But generally you an leave a porch light on all summer and it doesnot turn into a giant flying insect circus of death. Like you might get a couple of moths but no swarms of Junebugs or beetles or palmetto bugs. Cockroaches also aren't really a thing. We did get some fleas on the cat this year but it was the first time I've even heard of a case of fleas in years, and it vanished just as mysteriously after fall and temps dropped.
By the time the mosquitos arrive the big fat garden spiders and orb weavers and bats and other predators show up and just eat all of them.
At the house I live at when it's warm its not uncommon to just open all the doors and leave them open all night. The dog and cat keep the squirrels out. Raccoons stay away because the forest are abundant with food that's better than our trash. We've had a few crows and ravens hop in and take a look around.
We also have lots and lots of coyote, deer and even a few cougars and bears around but they have better places to be that have less dogs and humans around.
We do sometimes get bats inside, but that happens when whether or not the doors are open because they get in through the eaves or something, and, well, they eat bugs so we don't mind if they hang out for a bit during the brief buggy season in late summer and early fall.
posted by loquacious at 11:51 AM on December 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
This is one of the things I really love about living in the PNW.
There's almost no flying bugs, and in the spring, summer and well into the fall people just open their windows and doors without screens or screen doors and let the fresh air in.
It's not just people's homes or houses. You'll see coffee shops, cafes, bars or restaurants that have huge windows that are designed to be open and rolled out of the way and just open up and suddenly the whole place is like an open air patio, and it just works. Like, it's really amazing.
We do get some flying bugs but they tend to not come out until late summer. There may be a few days of flying termites. Or a week or two of mosquitoes, depending on your proximity to standing water. Some fruit flies and houseflies if you forgot to take the trash out. Oh, we do get some moths and a lot of butterflies.
But generally you an leave a porch light on all summer and it does
By the time the mosquitos arrive the big fat garden spiders and orb weavers and bats and other predators show up and just eat all of them.
At the house I live at when it's warm its not uncommon to just open all the doors and leave them open all night. The dog and cat keep the squirrels out. Raccoons stay away because the forest are abundant with food that's better than our trash. We've had a few crows and ravens hop in and take a look around.
We also have lots and lots of coyote, deer and even a few cougars and bears around but they have better places to be that have less dogs and humans around.
We do sometimes get bats inside, but that happens when whether or not the doors are open because they get in through the eaves or something, and, well, they eat bugs so we don't mind if they hang out for a bit during the brief buggy season in late summer and early fall.
posted by loquacious at 11:51 AM on December 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
The source link for the first list above is being blocked at the source. Apparently Australia not happy about us knowing just how dangerous their cows are.
posted by COD at 12:58 PM on December 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by COD at 12:58 PM on December 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
I thought this was about Hobart, Indiana until I got to the "Aussie rant" comment , and had so many questions about how in the heck the critter got there.
posted by Sparky Buttons at 1:31 PM on December 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Sparky Buttons at 1:31 PM on December 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
She ran downstairs and went to pick up the puppy's Tasmanian devil-shaped stuffed toy, when the plush "toy" started running.
Tasmanian devil, coming at you straight from the uncanny valley.
posted by doctornemo at 2:12 PM on December 29, 2022
Tasmanian devil, coming at you straight from the uncanny valley.
posted by doctornemo at 2:12 PM on December 29, 2022
The family needed to get some wildlife advice from this Irish family.
posted by misterpatrick at 2:17 PM on December 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by misterpatrick at 2:17 PM on December 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
I love the Key Points at the top of the article. Like we need an executive summary for a Boonta Vista segment.
posted by slogger at 4:59 PM on December 29, 2022
posted by slogger at 4:59 PM on December 29, 2022
Cute little Tasmanian devil apparently hasn't learned to walk like a tornado yet.
posted by lhauser at 5:44 PM on December 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by lhauser at 5:44 PM on December 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
I’m just going to pretend all of the Australian animal attack statistics are omitting the footnote, “when bodies were found.”
(My office in North Carolina has regular announcements that no one should leave the building because there are bears in the parking lot.)
posted by The Monster at the End of this Thread at 6:35 PM on December 29, 2022
(My office in North Carolina has regular announcements that no one should leave the building because there are bears in the parking lot.)
posted by The Monster at the End of this Thread at 6:35 PM on December 29, 2022
Having always lived in extremely buggy places, I'm always amazed the things the rest of y'all get up to with open doors and windows and no screens
My wife once found a squirrel in her dorm room at college. It had chewed through the screen in order to get inside and couldn’t figure out how to get back out.
posted by uncleozzy at 4:48 AM on December 30, 2022
My wife once found a squirrel in her dorm room at college. It had chewed through the screen in order to get inside and couldn’t figure out how to get back out.
posted by uncleozzy at 4:48 AM on December 30, 2022
No rabies in Australia, thanks to being an island and a rigorous quarantine for incoming cats and dogs...
We've got bats.
posted by creatrixtiara at 12:29 AM on January 1, 2023
We've got bats.
posted by creatrixtiara at 12:29 AM on January 1, 2023
« Older The Dear Diary rule | Archaeology is Not Often Thought of as a Tool of... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
I also like how the lede here makes it out to be an ongoing situation: A Hobart woman and her children have taken refuge on top of their dining table as a little Tasmanian devil made its way around their suburban house, chased by the woman's husband.
are they still on top of that table?
posted by chavenet at 1:18 AM on December 29, 2022 [16 favorites]