NEW SOUTH WALES, Australia – A reptile park in Australia is warning residents to keep an eye out for a large, deadly species of spider as summer approaches.
The funnel spider is one of Australia’s deadliest spiders and mating season for the arachnids is coming.
Recent rains and warm temperatures mean perfect conditions for spiders to move through residential areas, looking for a mate.
The funnel web spider can kill a person in just 15 minutes without any medical treatment, the Australian Reptile Park said.
At least 13 people have died from the spider species. The park said no one has died from a fatal spider bite since the anti-venom was created in 1981.
Residents who find funnel web spiders are being asked to collect and donate them to the Australian Reptile Park so they can be milked to create antivenom to help people who have been bitten by the eight-legged creatures.
“With the breeding season upon us and the weather making for ideal conditions, we rely on spider donations more than ever,” said Emma Teni, a spider keeper at the Australian Reptile Park. “Unlike pipe web spiders they have a short lifespan and with around 150 spiders needed to make just one bottle of antivenom, we need the public’s help to ensure we have enough venom to meet demand.”
Australian Reptile Park asks residents to be on the lookout for spiders in cool, dark areas. Some areas that funnel webs like to frequent are shoes, piles of laundry, swimming pools, and yard and garden debris.
The park warns people to keep an eye out for egg sacs when they find a funnel web spider.
“If you notice an egg sac while picking up a spider, it’s important to pick it up safely too. It could provide a robust supply of healthy young spiders to aid in our antivenom production,” Teni said.
If a funnel web spider is found, the park provides specific instructions on how to safely capture it and donate it to the reptile park for its anti-venom project. The first step is to find a large, wide-mouthed plastic or glass jar with a lid and use something like a long spoon to gently guide the spider into the jar. Collect some wet soil to add to the jar with the spider, then close the lid tightly.
In addition to asking for donations of funnel-web spiders, the park is asking residents to familiarize themselves with what to do if bitten by one.
- Keep calm.
- Cover the area around the bite tightly with a bandage.
- Go to the hospital immediately.
The Australian Reptile Park has several funnel web spider donation locations on the east coast of Australia.
For more information on collecting and donating funnel-web spiders, click here.
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