As the weather warms up, the Central Coast Coast is expected to experience a funnel-web peak with the humidity providing perfect conditions for the deadly spider.
The Australian Reptile Park is urging residents to exercise caution as male funnel-webs leave their burrows in search of a mate, sometimes ending up in houses or residential gardens.
The humidity has been exacerbated by hot weather following recent rain, with an increase in numbers of wandering spiders likely to follow.
Head of Reptiles and Spiders, Jake Meney, said residents need to remain vigilant, aware and safe when dealing with spiders.
“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 extract their venom and save lives,” he said.
“We rely on public donations of funnel-web spiders to build up our milking individuals.”
The Sydney funnel-web, found throughout Greater Sydney, including the Central Coast, prefers to make its home in sheltered, shady spots, which are always cool and humid.
While its habitats are rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests, the shaded areas of well-vegetated private gardens are also readily colonised.
“When found inside homes, Sydney funnel-web spiders prefer cool, damp places like the laundry, garage or in shoes left out on the ground,” Meney said.
“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 spiders.
“Pool filters should also be checked and cleaned regularly.”
If bitten it is important to stay as calm as possible and apply the correct first aid with a pressure immobilisation bandage and get to hospital as fast as you possibly can.
Keepers at the Park are asking for any collected spiders to be brought to the park to contribute to its antivenom program.
The Park, at Somersby, is the sole supplier of funnel-web spider venom to make into lifesaving antivenom, with its program having saved countless Australian lives since its inception in the early 1980s.
There has not been a single death since the introduction of the program.
Source:
Media release, Nov 22
Australian Reptile Park