Be warned – the funnel webs are out and about.
The Australian Reptile Park has issued a warning, with recent torrential rains and wet weather conditions creating perfect conditions for the arachnids to thrive.
Male funnel webs will be leaving their burrows in search of a mate, sometimes ending up in houses or residential gardens.
The Park is encouraging responsible adults to catch wandering funnel webs safely and drop them off at the Park or one of the participating drop off locations to contribute to its lifesaving antivenom program.
The Australian Reptile Park is the sole supplier of funnel web spider venom to make into antivenom, with the program saving its inception in the early 1980s.
There has not been a single death from a funnel web bite in that time.
The Park’s Reptiles and Spider keeper, Sam Herrmann, said the public needs to remain vigilant, aware and safe when dealing with funnel web spiders.
“Summer is funnel web season and the recent rain has created conditions where they thrive,” he said.
“It’s important that Australians 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.
“When found inside homes, Sydney funnel webs prefer cool, damp places like the laundry, garage or in shoes left out on the ground.
“It is best to ensure you are not leaving washing and clothing on the floors.
“If you leave your shoes outside make sure you give them a tap on the ground before putting your foot in blindly as shoes can be the perfect little burrow for funnel-webs.
“Pool filters should also be checked and cleaned regularly.”
While the spiders’ natural habitat is rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests, the shaded areas of well-vegetated private gardens are also readily colonised.
If someone is bitten, stay as calm as possible and apply the correct first aid, which is a pressure immobilisation bandage, and get to hospital as fast as possible.
The Australian Reptile Park website gives instructions on how to catch the spiders safely and lists the drop off points, all over Sydney, Central Coast and Newcastle where they can be donated.
More information at www.reptilepark.com.au.
Source:
Media release, Jan 21
Australian Reptile Park