In our local newspaper the other day it was written that this lady from a place called Westbury (with bush nearby a 30 minute drive to the town) not far from where I live let her two dogs out in the morning, the lady herself went to the toilet, her two dogs were barking madly, a Tasmanian Devil ran inside to get away from the dogs and the Devil went to the back of the toilet whilst the women was still sitting there. The lady quickly moved and closed the bathroom door where her toilet was. The lady phoned a wildlife rescue person to come and collect the Devil which they did, during the process the bathroom was wrecked to a degree!
Must have been a frightening experience and as my husband has family living in that town, I will find out who the lady was. I can see the funny side to this story!
Now what a fright that would have been, never heard of such a tale before - only in Tasmania this could happen.
A couple of photos of the Tasmanian Devil which are borrowed with permission. They are certainly not a cute animal.
Tasmanian Devils, once widespread across mainland Australia are now confined to Tasmania, becoming extinct on the mainland about 3,500 years ago, possible due to dingoes and other factors. These Devils have faced and are still facing a contagious facial tumor disease which has led to their endangered statues once again.
I do believe a few zoos in other States of Australia have a few Devils.
The first Europeans to enter Tasmania imagined demons lurking in the bush when they heard the blood-curdling shrieks and grows. Hence being dubbed 'devils'. It's now known that their various vocalisations (coughs, growls, snorts, sniffs, screeches and even sneezes) are designed to scare off other animals.
Oh, no! That women had a frightening experience.
ReplyDeleteI hope the Tasmanian Devil population will not decrease, although it is not a cute animal.
The devils seem to cause no harm to humans as far as I'm aware, they clean the bush of dead animals and so on.
DeleteI would have been frightened as well if I saw one coming in the door and landing itself behind my loo..
Ugh, how scary! In the cartoons, that animal is portrayed as a real pest.
ReplyDeleteYes, the real devil is very different from the cartoons Anne.
Deletemy...what an experience! Two dogs didn't get hurt, did they?
ReplyDeleteNo the dogs didn't come to any harm Ane, thank goodness.
DeleteGoodness me ... what an experience!!!
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
A frightening one for sure Jan.
DeleteWhile that experience must have been quite terrifying, I can see the fun that lady will have in the retelling. I'm glad she was none the worse for it, or her dogs. I actually am one of those strange people who find the Tasmanian Devil to look quite cute when they are not growling and screaming at people. Interesting to know this is a defensive move on their part. quite effective by the sound of them. Great story Margaret, thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteThe fur on the devil is very stiff, not at all soft as I've felt it at a Zoo here one time. They never look a cuddly creature but they are here for a purpose and that is to clean the carcass's of the deceased animals in the bush.
DeleteVery interesting and just like the vulture, they are nature's cleanup crew to prevent the spread of disease. Thanks again Margaret!
DeleteOMG, what a very scary situation. They don't look friendly at all.
ReplyDeleteIt sure must have been Bill. The certainly are not a pleasing creature to see.
DeleteThat would be scary but I think they are kind of cute.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been awful, Mary. I suppose many people see them as being cute, but those teeth and jaws are extremely strong.
DeleteWith the howling like that, I would freak out easily as well
ReplyDeleteThey make noises in the nighttime mainly and when we were caravaning down the south of the Island here we would hear them most nights screeching and so on.
DeleteMargaret. I was curious about what you tell me and I wanted to know more
ReplyDeleteabout him. Looking I found this video that can give us an idea about this animal that I did not know.
https://youtu.be/FBfjGplL6u0?si=DXFdzjYV_oJFYOMA
Thank you for the link to the video, I will watch it and have watch a bit of it and I've found it interesting..
DeleteWhat is it about Tasmania that enables the species to survive where it could not survive elsewhere?
ReplyDeleteNo dingoes?
DeleteRiver, you are correct. No dingoes here in Tasmania.
DeleteHels it appears by what I have researched Dingoes mostly killed many the devils along with humans on the mainland, it is said the devils became extinct on the mainland about 3,500 years ago, so that is a very long time.
DeleteHorrible creatures and so bloody ugly to boot.
ReplyDeleteVicious looking fangs!
Great "report" - as always.
Another damn snake decided to visit - but thankfully only a green tree snake, BUT still a snake.
We still get the bottom part of Albert. But at night and it has started to get cooler
and the beach is rough and has been closed.
Cheers
Colin
Certainly not a nice creature to look at Colin, agree with you on that. They do have a job to do in our bush though, and they do it well.
DeleteAnother snake, oh dear, yes still a snake, as a snake is a snake and the can hide anywhere. So lots of rain and rough seas for you there. Our nights have just started to get cooler, big thunderstorms last couple of days but not much rain.
It scares off this animal, me. That's the kind of story that will be reported overseas, even if we don't hear about it.
ReplyDeleteWell that's true about the story being reported overseas, they wouldn't thing that we all here in Australia would be interested.
DeleteWhat a frightening situation.
ReplyDeleteVery, and I'm glad it wasn't me.
DeleteThat last picture is a bit scary, imagine a mouth that wide with those fangs chomping down on a body part!
ReplyDeleteI can see the funny side to the story, but I would be a bit (a lot) concerned if any animal ran behind my toilet while I was on it. Better than having it running loose through the house though.
Those teeth, gosh, and indeed they do have a very strong jaw, nuggetty creature R.
DeleteLindo demonio de tazmania. Te mando un beso.
ReplyDeleteI really don't think he that cute JP. lol
DeleteThank you.
What a story and scary situation.
ReplyDeleteThe animal looks scary I think.
Greetings Irma
It does look a scary animal, and the poor women must have been frightened out of her wits.
DeleteDefinitely not something to make friends with.
ReplyDeleteNo they are not, but some are rather friendly if in the zoo being handled every day, but I wouldn't hold one that's for sure.
DeleteGee, I think he’s cute, but just as is the case with many humans I wouldn’t want to get too close! And to think of all the nature lovers who visit Tasmania to see a Tasmanian Devil and leave disappointed.
ReplyDeleteNot a good idea to get too close, they have come close to tents in the bush at night I was told. However, because their bush is being taken away in some areas that why they are closes to houses, such a shame. Yes, many come to see the native animals we have, but sometimes people have to go to the zoos to see them.
DeleteFrom what perspective of victim lady I found this story scary dear Margaret.
ReplyDeleteWe fear things we don’t know about mostly. Sudden attack might have scared her to hell omg
Good job of authorities to send rescue on time 👍
On geographic channel I saw family once who pet snakes.this was kind of shocking.
But looking at this angry animal I doubt anyone will want it ever sadly
Thank you for sharing my friend 🥰🙏
You are welcome Baili. I expect the devil scared the women a lot.
DeleteWhat an experience!
ReplyDeleteTrue but a scary one.
DeleteQuerida amiga, que historia de terror, se ven feroces y feítos, me daría mucho miedo encontrarme con uno de esos bichos.
ReplyDeletePensé que ya habían dejado de existir.
Te dejo todo mi cariño y besos, que Dios te bendiga.
♥️¸.•*¨)¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´♥️♥️.¸.•´♥️
There are still plenty of the devils about but they are endangered still. They do look rather fierce, and I certainly wouldn't want to come across one in the night or day, mostly they are active during the night.
DeleteMagnifico el modo en que lo has captado. Impresionante.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ildefonso.
Delete