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Funnel-Web Spiders Are Going In People's Homes After Massive Rainfall Over Australia

Funnel-Web Spiders Are Going In People's Homes After Massive Rainfall Over Australia

If you do see one in your home or garden, try to catch it.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

A huge weather event ripped through parts of Australia last week, bringing fierce winds, heavy rain and golf-ball sized hailstones.

Loads of people were celebrating the rain for helping extinguish loads of bushfires in Victoria and New South Wales and for helping drought affected Aussies.

But now that most of the storm cell has passed, it seems like the weather will be causing a headache for some people.

Because the weather has now suddenly turned hot and humid, Funnel-web spiders are starting to come out of hiding. The twist in weather is described as 'perfection conditions' for those pesky and highly dangerous eight-legged things to thrive.

People are being warned that the spiders can and will take up residence in your home.

A statement from the Australian Reptile Park says: "The wet weather over the weekend has seen an increase of the number of spiders wandering about.

Australian Reptile Park

"The Sydney funnel-web prefers to make its home in sheltered, shady spots, which are always cool and humid.

"The natural habitat are rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests; however, the shaded areas of well-vegetated private gardens are also readily colonised. When found inside homes, Sydney funnel webs prefer habituating cool, damp places like the laundry, garage or in shoes left out on the ground."

It's a very natural thing to want to bash a spider with the longest pole you can find, but those who do stumble across one are encouraged to do the opposite.

If you can muster the strength and courage, people who find a funnel-web spider are urged to grab them and hand them in so that specialists can milk them to create anti-venom.

Australian Reptile Park Reptiles and Spider keeper, Jake Meney, says it might be a scary experience, but having as many of these creatures as possible is essential.

"The weekend rain brings humid conditions where funnel web spiders thrive," he said.

"It's important that Australians are across the correct first aid and know how to SAFELY catch the spiders so that we can continue to milk them and save lives. We rely on public donations of funnel web spiders to build up our milking individuals.

"If you are an adult and feel safe to do so, please catch the funnel webs using a big glass jar and keeping your hands away from the spider, coax the spider into the jar using a long stick and bring it to us at the Australian Reptile Park or one of our drop-off points in Sydney, the Central Coast or Newcastle.

"Funnel webs cannot climb up glass or plastic so once you put the lid on tightly, the funnel web can't get out. You can help us save Australian lives."

Featured Image Credit: Australian Reptile Park

Topics: News, Animals, Australia