No "Poisonous" snakes, I have seen a few small green ones. No dangerous animals, not really many animals, I think the natives ate them all. Where I am, in the central mountain zone, very little crime. In the beach towns, there is some. Haven't been through any natural disasters, the earthquake in Haiti was just a little over a hundred miles away, we felt a small shake, but not bad. They call this area the "Alps of the Caribbean" and "land of eternal spring". I know with a small dredge I could maximize my time, I have to get one down here which is a task and costly. They charge duty on imports. Come down and visit and bring one with you.