Funnel-Web Spider Drop Off

Symbio Wildlife Park are proud to be working as a Sydney and South Coast Funnel-Web Spider drop off point for our friends at the Australian Reptile Park.

How to identify a Funnel Web Spider?

If you find a Funnel-Web Spider around your home, the first thing you need to do is make sure that everyone is safe. If you have the ability to safely collect the spider, you can bring it to Symbio or any other drop off point, where it will then be transported to the Australian Reptile Park for use within their life saving anti-venom program.

How to collect a spider safely?

The safest way to collect a Funnel-Web Spider is by using either a long stick, ruler or other object of length and gently persuading it into a secure container. This can either be a sturdy tupperware container with snap tight/screw top lid, or even a jar with screw top lid. Glass jars may be used, though it is usually safer to stick to sturdy plastic containers, to alleviate any dangers of dropping the jar or it breaking during transport, causing the spider to escape.

Once the spider is secure, you can bring it to Symbio Wildlife Park, and we will take the spider into care until transfer to the Australian Reptile Park.

• The following information was provided by the Australia Reptile Park.

What you need to know about spiders?

There are five spiders that regularly cause concern to members of the public in this area. Of these only the funnel-webs and red-backs are currently considered dangerous though there are others, such as mouse spiders, which are rarely encountered but potentially dangerous. Any spider larger in size than a dollar coin should be treated with respect, as all spiders have venom glands, though only the large species have fangs able to puncture human skin. The following safety rules apply to all spiders:

1. Do not leave clothes, shoes, towels, etc. on the floor
2. Check shoes before putting them on
3. Do not walk about at night without footwear
4. Do not handle spiders that appear to have drowned in pools, buckets, etc.
5. Wear gloves when gardening or working outside

For more information on identification of spiders: click here to access The Australian Reptile Park

First Aid

First Aid For Funnel-Web Spiders:

1. Keep the bite victim calm and immobile.
2. Apply a pressure-immobilisation bandage to the bite site and the adjacent limb. This should be the same tension/tightness as a sprain. Wrap around the bite site 3 times and then wrap the rest of the limb. For example, a bite on the finger should be treated by bandaging the finger first and then the entire arm.
3. Further restrict movement by applying a splint (only if option is nearby).
4. Go straight to hospital.

First Aid For Red Back Spiders:

1. Keep the bite victim calm and immobile.
2. Apply ice pack to the bite site to reduce the pain.
3. Go straight to hospital.
4. DO NOT use the Pressure Immobilisation Technique.