Hahahaha,
Probably is to be honest but when you're born into it, you probably think it's normal and the world is just like that. Funny, I was in AZ last year, jumped out of the RV and right beside me was a desert rattler, we took some pics and he just cruised around us, then had a rest in the shade under the RV. Shpwed some freinds in Phoenix and they were horrified we were so close!
As far as killer stuff, yep,some of our spiders will kill you, they do hang out in residential areas a bit, but just don't touch the little buggers. I think we have probably 3 - 4 snakes locally that will kill you, about a dozen more that will make you sick but out of those, only 2 will really go at you unprovoked, the others you have to piss off to get a bite. I don't mind snakes but spiders I'm not a fan of.
Bush, we have not really any animals that are aggressive, wild pigs of course get cranky but a small lead tablet sorts that. Tassie devils are only in Tasmania and hard to find but they'll nail you. Other stuff like Dingo's and the like you won't see, they'll run first. Now the water, this is where you'll get a hiding, salt water crocs in the north, urakangi (Box Jelly)will kill yo, again up north, Sharks mainly around South Australia, the big suckers anyway. Some small fish are poisoness but rare, and Sting Rays won't touch you, you have to annoy the crap out of them to get hit.
It's really not too bad, sounds like it I know but it's a **** load safer than LA!